Journal of Vocational Behavior Publishes Article by Dr. Lauterbach

Dr. Ann Sophie Lauterbach from the Chair of Organization and Management has published an article in the Journal of Vocational Behavior together with Prof. Haien Ding (The University of Edinburgh Business School, Edinburgh, Scotland) and Prof. Frida Karine Feyer (The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway).

The article, titled “Are the basic psychological needs of self-determination theory necessary for employee well-being?,” examines a central but previously untested assumption of self-determination theory: that the three basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are necessary conditions for employee well-being. The authors test this assumption in the workplace context using four indicators of employee well-being.

Using necessary condition analysis, the article finds consistent support for this assumption across different research contexts. The findings hold across cultural contexts and measurement instruments, as well as in both observational and experimental studies. Furthermore, the study shows that perceived power and status, although sometimes discussed as fundamental motives or needs, are not necessary conditions for employee well-being.

This article can be downloaded here.