The impact of job demands, climate, and optimism on well-being and distress at work: What are the mediating effects of basic psychological need satisfaction?

Abstract Introduction Psychological health at work, a multidimensional concept grasped by the absence of negative states and by the presence of positive states, is here approximated in terms of distress and well-being. Objective This study was aimed at examining the extent to which job demands, indi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revue européenne de psychologie appliquée 2015-07, Vol.65 (4), p.179-188
Main Authors: Desrumaux, P, Lapointe, D, Ntsame Sima, M, Boudrias, J.-S, Savoie, A, Brunet, L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bien-être
Climat
Climate
Cognitive science
Distress
Détresse
Internal Medicine
Need satisfaction
Optimism
Optimisme
Psychiatry
Psychological health
Psychology
Santé psychologique
Satisfaction des besoins
Well-being
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Summary:Abstract Introduction Psychological health at work, a multidimensional concept grasped by the absence of negative states and by the presence of positive states, is here approximated in terms of distress and well-being. Objective This study was aimed at examining the extent to which job demands, individual resources (optimism), and organizational resources (climate) are linked to well-being and distress at work. We looked at whether these links are mediated in satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs posited in self-determination theory (competence, relatedness, and autonomy). Method The participants were 298 French elementary, middle, and high school teachers who were asked to answer a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using Hayes and Preacher's method for testing multiple mediations. Results Satisfaction of the psychological needs for competence and relatedness fully mediated the links between job climate and psychological health at work (well-being and distress). Optimism turned out to be an important factor of health, not only because it had a strong impact on well-being and distress, but also because its effects were partially mediated by satisfaction of the need for competence. Conclusion The present results confirm the relevance of the variables used to predict psychological health (particularly optimism). Job demands directly affected well-being and distress levels. The climate — by way of satisfaction of the need for competence and for relatedness — plays a critical role in matters of occupational health.
ISSN:1162-9088
1878-3457
DOI:10.1016/j.erap.2015.06.003