Measuring the satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs in the workplace

Abstract

Researchers have been looking at the issue of psychological need satisfaction in the workplace since the 1930s. Self-Determination Theory (SDT), a concept that emerged in the 1980s, stands out from other theories by uniquely capturing basic psychological needs as (1) innate and (2) promoting psychological growth, internalization, and well-being. Allowing basic psychological needs to be met at work is essential for autonomous work motivation, positive attitudes, good behaviors, and employee well-being, while frustration of basic psychological needs at work is associated with higher levels of job insecurity, engaging in unproductive behavior at work, and higher stress related to work, which in turn predicts higher levels of somatic symptoms, emotional exhaustion, and absenteeism from work due to illness. Therefore, it is crucial to measure basic need satisfaction and frustration at work and adjust management to improve on these dimensions. The purpose of the research is to review the research tools used to measure the satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs at work within the SDT framework. To achieve the research objective, the review of scientific literature available in the EBSCOhost database: APA PsycInfo, APA PsycArticles on the keyword “basic psychological needs” AND “self-determination theory” AND “scale” was done along with reviewing the research tools available on the Center for Self-Determination Theory website. The collection obtained was completed using the snowball technique. A comprehensive and up-to-date review of tools used to measure satisfaction (and frustration) of basic psychological needs in the workplace was established within the framework of Deci and Ryan’s SDT.