Workplace Well-Being: The Role of Job Crafting and Autonomy Support

• Published in: Psychology of well-being 2015-08, Vol.5 (1), p.1, Article 7
• Main Authors: Slemp, Gavin R., Kern, Margaret L., Vella-Brodrick, Dianne A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biological Psychology; Employees; Health Psychology; Neuropsychology; Organizational behavior; Positive Psychology; Positive psychology and well-being - creating sustained impact; Psychology; Quality of Life Research; Studies; Working conditions
• ISSN: 2211-1522; 2211-1522
• DOI: 10.1186/s13612-015-0034-y

Studies have found that job crafting and employee well-being are correlated. Less is known, however, about the contextual variables that support or thwart job crafting within an organization. The present study examined perceived autonomy support as one such contextual factor. Working adults ( N  = 250) completed a battery of measures on autonomy support, job crafting, and workplace well-being. A hypothesized model in which perceived autonomy support predicts job crafting, which in turn predicts workplace well-being was tested using structural equation modeling. The hypothesized model fit the data well; however, a competing model in which autonomy support and job crafting were separate, but correlated direct predictors of well-being provided a better fit to the data. Supplemental analyses suggested a synergistic relationship between job crafting and autonomy support in organizations, showing employees with the highest well-being did the most job crafting and experienced the highest amount of perceived autonomy support. Findings underscore the importance of both individual factors and contextual factors in supporting workplace well-being.