The importance of perceived autonomy support for the psychological health and work satisfaction of health professionals: Not only supervisors count, colleagues too!

Abstract

Previous studies show that supervisors’ autonomy-supportive style predicts greater psychological health (Baard et al. in J Appl Soc Psychol 34:2045–2068, 2004; Blais and Briere 1992; Lynch et al. in Prof Psychol Res Pract 36:415–425, 2005) and lower psychological distress (Deci et al. in Personal Soc Psychol Bull 27:930–942, 2001). The goal of the present study is to extend these results and investigate the contribution of colleagues’ perceived autonomy support in the prediction of health professionals’ work satisfaction and psychological health. The combined impact of supervisors’ and colleagues’ perceived autonomy support is also examined. A sample of 597 health professionals from the province of Quebec (Canada) completed a questionnaire, which included measures of perceived supervisors’ and colleagues’ autonomy support and outcome variables. Results confirm that supervisors’ and colleagues’ perceived autonomy support predict health professionals’ work satisfaction and psychological health. Results also show that colleagues’ perceived autonomy support adds to the prediction of health professionals’ work satisfaction, subjective well-being, and suicidal ideation above and beyond supervisors’ perceived autonomy support.