The impact of autonomy-supportive organizational environments on employees' emotions and creative performance: A self-determination theory perspective.

The ongoing debate over whether positive or negative emotions foster creative performance remains a pivotal issue in understanding the interplay between emotions and creativity. Emerging research suggests that both positive and certain negative emotions, such as fear and guilt, can enhance creativit...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lan Ye, Yanwei Li, Na Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322184
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850162833469210624
author Lan Ye
Yanwei Li
Na Zhang
author_facet Lan Ye
Yanwei Li
Na Zhang
author_sort Lan Ye
collection DOAJ
description The ongoing debate over whether positive or negative emotions foster creative performance remains a pivotal issue in understanding the interplay between emotions and creativity. Emerging research suggests that both positive and certain negative emotions, such as fear and guilt, can enhance creativity under specific conditions. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study examines how autonomy-supportive organizational environments contribute to the satisfaction of employees' basic psychological needs. It further explores how these needs influence work-related emotions and ultimately foster creative performance. Data were collected from 283 leaders and employees across various enterprises in Mainland China. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, and structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables was conducted using AMOS 26.0 to test the hypothesized relationships and mediating effects. The results demonstrate that autonomy support positively influences the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, which subsequently promotes positive emotions and enhances creative performance. Conversely, autonomy support negatively affects the frustration of basic psychological needs, thereby mitigating negative emotions. Mediation analyses reveal that basic psychological needs mediate the relationship between autonomy support and emotions, while both positive and negative emotions mediate the relationship between autonomy support and creative performance. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms linking autonomy-supportive environments, psychological needs, emotions, and creativity. Beyond its theoretical contributions to SDT, this study offers practical guidance for organizations aiming to cultivate employee creativity and well-being by fostering supportive and autonomy-oriented workplace climates.
format Article
id doaj-art-23bef2af02fc4e38ac50c8d288775e78
institution OA Journals
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-23bef2af02fc4e38ac50c8d288775e782025-08-20T02:22:26ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01205e032218410.1371/journal.pone.0322184The impact of autonomy-supportive organizational environments on employees' emotions and creative performance: A self-determination theory perspective.Lan YeYanwei LiNa ZhangThe ongoing debate over whether positive or negative emotions foster creative performance remains a pivotal issue in understanding the interplay between emotions and creativity. Emerging research suggests that both positive and certain negative emotions, such as fear and guilt, can enhance creativity under specific conditions. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study examines how autonomy-supportive organizational environments contribute to the satisfaction of employees' basic psychological needs. It further explores how these needs influence work-related emotions and ultimately foster creative performance. Data were collected from 283 leaders and employees across various enterprises in Mainland China. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, and structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables was conducted using AMOS 26.0 to test the hypothesized relationships and mediating effects. The results demonstrate that autonomy support positively influences the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, which subsequently promotes positive emotions and enhances creative performance. Conversely, autonomy support negatively affects the frustration of basic psychological needs, thereby mitigating negative emotions. Mediation analyses reveal that basic psychological needs mediate the relationship between autonomy support and emotions, while both positive and negative emotions mediate the relationship between autonomy support and creative performance. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms linking autonomy-supportive environments, psychological needs, emotions, and creativity. Beyond its theoretical contributions to SDT, this study offers practical guidance for organizations aiming to cultivate employee creativity and well-being by fostering supportive and autonomy-oriented workplace climates.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322184
spellingShingle Lan Ye
Yanwei Li
Na Zhang
The impact of autonomy-supportive organizational environments on employees' emotions and creative performance: A self-determination theory perspective.
PLoS ONE
title The impact of autonomy-supportive organizational environments on employees' emotions and creative performance: A self-determination theory perspective.
title_full The impact of autonomy-supportive organizational environments on employees' emotions and creative performance: A self-determination theory perspective.
title_fullStr The impact of autonomy-supportive organizational environments on employees' emotions and creative performance: A self-determination theory perspective.
title_full_unstemmed The impact of autonomy-supportive organizational environments on employees' emotions and creative performance: A self-determination theory perspective.
title_short The impact of autonomy-supportive organizational environments on employees' emotions and creative performance: A self-determination theory perspective.
title_sort impact of autonomy supportive organizational environments on employees emotions and creative performance a self determination theory perspective
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322184
work_keys_str_mv AT lanye theimpactofautonomysupportiveorganizationalenvironmentsonemployeesemotionsandcreativeperformanceaselfdeterminationtheoryperspective
AT yanweili theimpactofautonomysupportiveorganizationalenvironmentsonemployeesemotionsandcreativeperformanceaselfdeterminationtheoryperspective
AT nazhang theimpactofautonomysupportiveorganizationalenvironmentsonemployeesemotionsandcreativeperformanceaselfdeterminationtheoryperspective
AT lanye impactofautonomysupportiveorganizationalenvironmentsonemployeesemotionsandcreativeperformanceaselfdeterminationtheoryperspective
AT yanweili impactofautonomysupportiveorganizationalenvironmentsonemployeesemotionsandcreativeperformanceaselfdeterminationtheoryperspective
AT nazhang impactofautonomysupportiveorganizationalenvironmentsonemployeesemotionsandcreativeperformanceaselfdeterminationtheoryperspective