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Basic psychological needs and work motivation: A longitudinal test of directionality
Olafsen, Anja H. Deci, Edward L. Halvari, Hallgeir
Olafsen, Anja H.
Deci, Edward L.
Halvari, Hallgeir
Abstract
Most work-related studies of self-determination theory (SDT) have focused either on satisfaction of basic psychological needs or on types of work motivation when studying motivational processes at work. The few studies that have considered both mechanisms have usually assumed that satisfaction or frustration of basic psychological needs is a prerequisite of different types of work motivation. Nevertheless, the directionality of this relation has not been explicitly tested in previous studies of the workplace. The current study explored the relations among managerial need support, basic psychological need satisfaction at work, and work motivation. It tested competing sets of hypotheses regarding the directionality of these three core constructs within SDT’s model of work motivation. A longitudinal analysis suggested that managerial need support was positively directly related to basic psychological need satisfaction but not directly related to work motivation. Further, results indicated that basic psychological need satisfaction was related to work motivation over time and not the other way around. In addition, it was found an indirect relation between in managerial need support and in work motivation through in basic psychological need satisfaction. These findings have important implications for future SDT research testing process models in the workplace.
Keywords
self-determination theory, managerial need support, basic psychological need satisfaction, work motivation, longitudinal
Date
2018
Type
Journal article
Journal
Motivation and Emotion
Book
Volume
42
Issue
2
Page Range
178-189
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled