Citation

Goodboy AK, Martin MM, Bolkan S. J. Interpers. Violence 2017; ePub(ePub): 886260517717492.

Affiliation

California State University, Long Beach, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0886260517717492

PMID

29294812

Abstract

This study modeled motivational mechanisms that explain the negative effects of workplace bullying on work engagement. Guided by self-determination theory, workplace bullying was predicted to decrease worker engagement indirectly, due to the denial of employees' basic psychological needs and their intrinsic motivation to work. From a sample of 243 full-time employees, serial multiple mediation models revealed that the indirect relationships between workplace bullying and work engagement (i.e., vigor, dedication, absorption) were serially mediated by basic psychological needs and intrinsic motivation to work. In support of self-determination theory, this study revealed that workplace bullying indirectly disengages employees from their work by denying them of their autonomy and relatedness needs and thwarting their motivation to perform work in a fulfilling way.

Language: en

Keywords

intrinsic motivation to work; self-determination; worker engagement; workplace bullying