Basic Psychological Needs as Factors of Work-related Well-being and Organizational Commitment

Self-determination theory argues that optimal human functioning and well-being require the satisfaction of the intrinsic needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness. Our aim was to examine the positive effect of the satisfaction of basic psychological needs on employee well-being and organizational commitment in samples of Hungarian employees. In our cross-sectional, questionnaire-based studies participants (N= 65 and 103) completed the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction at Work Scale, and measures of flow experience at work, job satisfaction (in Study 1) and affective, cognitive and evaluative organizational commitment (in Study 2). Using multiple linear regression, flow experience was predicted by older age and higher satisfaction of autonomy; and general job satisfaction was predicted by the satisfaction of need for autonomy. In Study 2, organizational commitment was predicted by higher job position and satisfaction of basic psychological needs (primarily need for relatedness). Our results highlight the importance of developing workplace interventions designed to provide support for satisfaction of basic psychological needs.