title: Reactions to changes in work control: Implications for self-determined and non-self-determined individuals.
abstract: We investigate the extent to which individuals' global motivation (self-determined and non-self-determined types) influences adjustment (anxiety, positive reappraisal) and engagement (intrinsic motivation, task performance) in reaction to changes to the level of work control available during a work simulation. Participants (N = 156) completed 2 trials of an inbox activity under conditions of low or high work control-with the ordering of these levels varied to create an increase, decrease, or no change in work control. In support of the hypotheses, results revealed that for more self-determined individuals, high work control led to the increased use of positive reappraisal. Follow-up moderated mediation analyses revealed that the increases in positive reappraisal observed for self-determined individuals in the conditions in which work control was high by Trial 2 consequently increased their intrinsic motivation toward the task. For more non-self-determined individuals, high work control (as well as changes in work control) led to elevated anxiety. Follow-up moderated mediation analyses revealed that the increases in anxiety observed for non-self-determined individuals in the high-to-high work control condition consequently reduced their task performance. It is concluded that adjustment to a demanding work task depends on a fit between individuals' global motivation and the work control available, which has consequences for engagement with demanding work. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Stacey L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: School of Management, Queensland University of Technology.
authors.forename: Nerina L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Jimmieson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal.
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Amiot
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D000066477:Work Performance; D055815:Young Adult