Helping Others Helps? A Self-Determination Theory Approach on Work Climate and Wellbeing among Volunteers

Yandan Wu and Chunxiao Li ()
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Yandan Wu: Fujian Normal University
Chunxiao Li: The Education University of Hong Kong

Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2019, vol. 14, issue 4, No 15, 1099-1111

Abstract: Abstract Participation in voluntary work is not sufficient to facilitate one’s psychological wellbeing and the motivation underlying this helping behavior may matter. Grounded in self-determination theory, this survey research examined the relationships among a supportive work climate, autonomous/controlled motivation, and subjective wellbeing (i.e., emotional exhaustion and life satisfaction). Volunteers (n = 2022) answered a survey form measuring the related study variables. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that a supportive work climate positively and negatively predicted autonomous and controlled motivation, respectively. Autonomous motivation was a negative predictor of emotional exhaustion and a positive predictor of life satisfaction, whereas controlled motivation positively predicted emotional exhaustion and negatively predicted life satisfaction. A supportive work climate had an indirect effect on emotional exhaustion and life satisfaction via autonomous/controlled motivation. These findings suggest that only when volunteers are motivated by autonomous forms of motivation will their subjective wellbeing be enhanced.

Keywords: Volunteering; Motivation; Autonomy support; Emotional exhaustion; Satisfaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s11482-018-9642-z

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