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Helping Others Helps? A Self-Determination Theory Approach on Work Climate and Wellbeing among Volunteers

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  • Yandan Wu

    (Fujian Normal University)

  • Chunxiao Li

    (The Education University of Hong Kong
    Nanyang Technological University)

Abstract

Participation in voluntary work is not sufficient to facilitate one’s psychological wellbeing and the motivation underlying this helping behavior may matter. Grounded in self-determination theory, this survey research examined the relationships among a supportive work climate, autonomous/controlled motivation, and subjective wellbeing (i.e., emotional exhaustion and life satisfaction). Volunteers (n = 2022) answered a survey form measuring the related study variables. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that a supportive work climate positively and negatively predicted autonomous and controlled motivation, respectively. Autonomous motivation was a negative predictor of emotional exhaustion and a positive predictor of life satisfaction, whereas controlled motivation positively predicted emotional exhaustion and negatively predicted life satisfaction. A supportive work climate had an indirect effect on emotional exhaustion and life satisfaction via autonomous/controlled motivation. These findings suggest that only when volunteers are motivated by autonomous forms of motivation will their subjective wellbeing be enhanced.

Suggested Citation

  • Yandan Wu & Chunxiao Li, 2019. "Helping Others Helps? A Self-Determination Theory Approach on Work Climate and Wellbeing among Volunteers," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(4), pages 1099-1111, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:14:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s11482-018-9642-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-018-9642-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Man Ye & Lezhi Li & Yingxia Li & Ruoling Shen & Shali Wen & Jingping Zhang, 2014. "Life Satisfaction of Adolescents in Hunan, China: Reliability and Validity of Chinese Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(2), pages 515-522, September.
    2. Yan Kwok & Wing Chui & Lok Wong, 2013. "Need Satisfaction Mechanism Linking Volunteer Motivation and Life Satisfaction: A Mediation Study of Volunteers Subjective Well-Being," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 1315-1329, December.
    3. Andreoni, James, 1990. "Impure Altruism and Donations to Public Goods: A Theory of Warm-Glow Giving?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 100(401), pages 464-477, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Roberto Luna-Arocas & Ignacio Danvila-del-Valle, 2021. "Does Positive Wellbeing Predict Job Performance Three Months Later?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1555-1569, August.
    2. Rudi Wielers & Peter H. Meer, 2021. "Beyond Income: Why We Want to Keep on Working Even if We Don’t Need the Money," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1613-1635, August.
    3. Alberto Dionigi & Giulia Casu & Paola Gremigni, 2020. "Associations of Self-Efficacy, Optimism, and Empathy with Psychological Health in Healthcare Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-13, August.
    4. Chunmao Wu & Xuan Wang & Pei Li, 2023. "An Impact-Centered, Sustainable, Positive Experience Design Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Wenyi Lin & Jianxin Cheng, 2024. "Online volunteering and subjective well-being in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-6, December.

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