The effects of work motivation on employee exhaustion and commitment: An extension of the JD-R model

Abstract A model that integrates and builds on the job demands-resources model and self-determination theory is proposed to better understand the role of work motivation in relation to job resources, occupational commitment and emotional exhaustion. Two forms of motivation were studied: autonomous motivation, in which employees act with volition,; and controlled motivation, in which they act under internal or external pressure. Data were collected at two time points nine months apart from a sample of 586 school principals in Quebec, Canada. SEM analysis results support the hypothesized model. Specifically, job resources had a positive effect on autonomous motivation but a negative effect on controlled motivation. In addition, taking into account the cross-lagged effects of job resources on commitment and exhaustion, autonomous motivation had a negative effect on exhaustion but a positive effect on commitment whereas controlled motivation had a positive effect on exhaustion. These results advance the understanding of why work motivation acts on employee functioning and how it can play an active role in both the motivational and energetic processes of the job demands-resources model. Practical implications and further theoretical implications are discussed. Keywords: emotional exhaustionoccupational commitmentjob resourceswork motivationjob demands-resources modelself-determination theory Acknowledgements This work was supported by a grant from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture and a fellowship from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé awarded to the first author.