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How job characteristics relate to need satisfaction and autonomous motivation: implications for work effort
Author(s) -
De Cooman Rein,
Stynen Dave,
Van den Broeck Anja,
Sels Luc,
De Witte Hans
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/jasp.12143
Subject(s) - job satisfaction , psychology , job design , job attitude , structural equation modeling , social psychology , work motivation , work (physics) , job characteristic theory , process (computing) , sample (material) , self determination theory , job analysis , job performance , applied psychology , computer science , autonomy , mechanical engineering , chemistry , chromatography , machine learning , law , political science , engineering , operating system
To explore the motivational potential of job design, we linked job demands and job resources, as defined in the job demands–resources model, to the motivational process defined in self‐determination theory. Specifically, we introduced basic need satisfaction and autonomous motivation as consecutive process variables mediating the relationship between job design and work effort. We tested this model by means of structural equation modeling in a sample of 689 employees. The comparison of several competing models provided support for the hypothesized model. We conclude that job demands thwart and job resources promote the fulfillment of 3 psychological needs. High levels of need satisfaction, in turn, are associated with autonomous motivation and, therefore, with high levels of effort.