The Importance of Need-Supportive Relationships for Motivation and Psychological Health at Work

Abstract

Nurturing and fulfilling relationships in the workplace are a crucial ingredient for having a motivated and healthy workforce. Self-determination theory offers a relevant framework to understand the process leading to workers’ optimal functioning in organizational settings. Based on this theory applied in work settings, this chapter reviews evidence on how managers and other social actors in the workplace, as well as job design and HR practices, can contribute to satisfy or thwart employees’ basic psychological needs, which in return elicit various forms of motivation at work, and impact employees’ psychological health. This is further demonstrated through a study we conducted among healthcare workers. In order to balance studying the positive and the negative paths to optimal psychological health and functioning, recommendations for future research within this theoretical framework are offered.