Prospective effects of social support on self-actualization at work – The mediating role of basic psychological need fulfillment

Self-actualization - an ethically meaningful, eudaimonic way of living - is achieved by self-determined activities and realizing one's highest potential. Therefore, personal growth and human fulfillment are considered central aspects. In accordance with self-determination theory this study aims to longitudinally investigate the mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction - combined and separately - within the association between social support and indicators of self-actualization at work. 264 employees working in diverse economic sectors and occupations participated in the survey two times with a time lag of two months. Consistent with hypotheses the fulfillment of basic psychological needs in general as well as separately mediated the link between social support from different sources and self-actualization at work with one exception: Within the association between support from co-workers and indicators of self-actualization at work the need for relatedness did not have a significant mediating effect. Implications for future research and practice of promoting social support for personal development at the workplace are discussed.