How to stimulate vital employees: The relationship between task autonomy, work passion, and employee vitality

Abstract

The current study examines the influence of task autonomy on levels of employee vitality at work. Vitality refers to a sense of aliveness and energy, indicative of mental and physical strength. This research also investigates the mediating role of harmonious work passion and the moderating role of obsessive work passion in the relationship between task autonomy and employee vitality. Enhanced knowledge about what factors will increase the vitality experienced by employees is crucial in strengthening overall levels of well-being. The theory of self-determination and the dualistic model of passion are used as theoretical bases in describing the proposed relationships in this study. It was hypothesised that task autonomy would positively influence employee vitality, harmonious work passion would positively mediate this relationship, and obsessive work passion would negatively moderate this relationship. The sample consisted of 145 part-time or full-time employees (N = 145) who completed an online survey regarding their experiences and behaviours at work. Analyses were conducted at a significance level of p < .05. The results of this study showed that task autonomy did indeed positively influence employee vitality, but this relationship was fully mediated by harmonious work passion. Obsessive work passion was not found to significantly influence the relationship between task autonomy and employee vitality. As such, the moderated mediation model was found to be statistically significant only through the influence of harmonious work passion. These findings reveal the powerful influence that harmonious passion has when combined with high levels of task autonomy to promote feelings of vitality amongst employees. This has implications in the field of positive psychology, as enhancing levels of vitality in the workplace contributes highly to increased well-being and overall quality of life.