The effect of basic psychological needs on healthcare professionals’ work-related psychological outcomes

Abstract

Background

self-determination theory (SDT) posits that the satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness affects employees’ work-related psychological outcomes. Despite the wealth of studies addressing SDT in the workplace domain, little is known of the effect of each basic need to the work-related psychological outcomes of healthcare workers.

Objective

To evaluate the relative effect of each basic psychological need to occupational and physical therapists’ work-related psychological outcomes.

Methods

Participants were 152 occupational and physical therapists who completed questionnaires tapping basic psychological needs satisfaction, well-being, work meaning, work satisfaction and compassion fatigue. A series of linear regressions were performed.

Results

Competence, relatedness toward co-workers, and relatedness toward patients were positive predictors of occupational and physical therapists’ mental well-being. Autonomy and competence predicted job satisfaction. Autonomy, competence, and relatedness toward patients predicted work meaning. Autonomy and competence were significant negative predictors of compassion fatigue.

Conclusions

Study results demonstrate each basic psychological need makes its own influence to different psychological outcomes, highlighting the importance of supporting all three needs.