Motivation and Well-being: A Test of Self-Determination Theory Using a Person-Centered Approach

Self-determination theory postulates that individuals can experience motivation in different ways and that these different types of motivation fall along a continuum from controlled to autonomous regulation. Recently, there have been challenges to the notion that an individual’s motivation can be categorized as falling at a particular point along the autonomy continuum. Researchers have begun to investigate the possibility that individuals can experience different types of motivation simultaneously. The current study used a person-centered approach to study motivation and also examined how the profiles detected related to well-being outcomes and adaptive student behaviours. Latent profile analyses of data from two samples of university students revealed three profiles in each of the samples. The most favourable profile found was comprised of both autonomous and controlled forms of motivation. This finding suggests that favourable outcomes can be attained when controlled forms of motivation are experienced if combined with autonomous forms of motivation

Evidence for a bifactor structure of the Scales of Psychological Well-being using exploratory structural equation modeling

This research investigates the much-debated factor structure of the 54-item version of Ryff’s (1989) Scales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB). Using two samples (n1 = 573; n2 = 449) of undergraduate university students, we apply confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) along with recently developed exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) techniques to evaluate several unidimensional and multidimensional models identified in previous research, as well as a new bifactor model. In a bifactor model, items load directly on both a global and a specific factor; when tested using ESEM, cross-loadings on other specific factors are also permitted and are targeted to be as close to zero as possible. After comparing various ESEM and traditional CFA models, the results indicate that a bifactor model estimated using ESEM provided the best fit to the data. Most items were found to reflect the global factor, but some items failed to reflect the intended specific factor. Thus, the 54-item version of the SPWB appears to be a good measure of overall psychological well-being, but may need refinement as a measure of the intended specific factors, at least among young adults. The benefits of applying ESEM to investigate the factor structure of the SPWB in other populations are discussed

Managerial Support for Employees’ Psychological Needs: A Multidimensional Approach

We expand the notion of autonomy-supportive management from self-determination theory (SDT) by treating it as a multidimensional construct, with the dimensions reflecting behaviours expected to satisfy the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness that underlie autonomous motivation. Using SDT as a guide, we constructed a set of Need-Supportive Management Scales (NSMS), each with a clear behavioural focus. In Study 1, we administered the measures to a diverse sample of working adults (N = 318) to evaluate the factor structure of the new measures. Study 2 was conducted with another diverse sample (N = 497) as a second test of the factor structure and to test hypotheses concerning (a) relationships with subjective wellbeing and peer-ratings of in-role performance and citizenship behaviours, and (b) the mediating role of need satisfaction in these relationships. Findings confirm the multidimensionality of the NSMS and generally support the hypothesized relationships and mediation processes. Implications for theory, future research and management practice are discussed