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Levels and change in autonomous and controlled work motivation in older workers—The role of proximity to retirement and sense of community at work
Author(s) -
Henning Georg,
Stenling Andreas,
Tafvelin Susanne,
Ebener Melanie,
Lindwall Magnus
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
journal of occupational and organizational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 2044-8325
pISSN - 0963-1798
DOI - 10.1111/joop.12406
Subject(s) - disengagement theory , psychology , work motivation , work (physics) , social psychology , sense of community , developmental psychology , gerontology , medicine , mechanical engineering , engineering
Previous studies suggest a preretirement disengagement process from work, which includes reduced work motivation. In this study, we investigated changes in autonomous and controlled work motivation over two years among participants of the Health, Aging and Retirement Transition in Sweden (HEARTS) study. We found stability in both types of motivation; however, those who retired after the study period showed more distinct declines in autonomous motivation. A stronger sense of community at work was related to level, but not change in autonomous motivation. Intra‐individual fluctuations in the expected retirement age did not predict work motivation or vice versa. Future studies are needed to better understand the antecedents and consequences of preretirement declines in autonomous work motivation.