From Decent Work to Decent Lives: An Empirical Test of the Outcomes of Decent Work in the Psychology of Working Theory

dc.contributor.advisorMeyer, Ines
dc.contributor.authorMalan, Danielle
dc.date.accessioned2020-03-02T08:10:21Z
dc.date.available2020-03-02T08:10:21Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.date.updated2020-03-02T07:11:01Z
dc.description.abstractThe psychology of working theory (PWT) postulates that certain contextual and structural factors determine if individuals are able to obtain decent work, and that decent work, in turn, leads to work fulfilment and general well-being. The theory assumes that this is the case, as decent work satisfies three fundamental human needs: survival and power, social connection, and self-determination (as per the self-determination theory [SDT]). Only recently has a measure been developed to assess the satisfaction of these needs (Autin et al., under review), which means that the proposed role of need satisfaction as mediator in the link between decent work and work fulfilment/general well-being has not yet been tested empirically. This formed the objective of this study. The study employed a descriptive research design with a correlational approach. Working individuals residing in South Africa’s Western Cape province (N = 150) rated their work experiences on the decent work scale (DWS), work need satisfaction scale (WNSS), index of job satisfaction (IoJS) scale, and satisfaction with life scale (SWLS). In this sample, adequate healthcare did not fall within the decent work concept. This might be because it is common for working South Africans, especially in lower income brackets, not to receive healthcare benefits, which would thus not be expected. The autonomy and relationship aspects of the SDT self-determination need formed one instead of two separate components. This may be a reflection of low levels of trust in low-income workers, which means that autonomy is only provided if there is a positive relationship. Decent work predicted work fulfilment and individuals’ well-being and, as expected, this relationship was mediated by the fulfilment of the hypothesised needs (survival and power, social connection, SDT relationship + autonomy, and SDT competence). The study thus indicates the applicability of the PWT in the South African context. Organisations should thus be encouraged to provide employees with decent work, as this, in turn, will likely increase employees’ work fulfilment and general wellbeing.
dc.identifier.apacitationMalan, D. (2019). <i>From Decent Work to Decent Lives: An Empirical Test of the Outcomes of Decent Work in the Psychology of Working Theory</i>. (). ,Faculty of Commerce ,Organisational Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31416en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMalan, Danielle. <i>"From Decent Work to Decent Lives: An Empirical Test of the Outcomes of Decent Work in the Psychology of Working Theory."</i> ., ,Faculty of Commerce ,Organisational Psychology, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31416en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMalan, D. 2019. From Decent Work to Decent Lives: An Empirical Test of the Outcomes of Decent Work in the Psychology of Working Theory. . ,Faculty of Commerce ,Organisational Psychology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31416en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Malan, Danielle AB - The psychology of working theory (PWT) postulates that certain contextual and structural factors determine if individuals are able to obtain decent work, and that decent work, in turn, leads to work fulfilment and general well-being. The theory assumes that this is the case, as decent work satisfies three fundamental human needs: survival and power, social connection, and self-determination (as per the self-determination theory [SDT]). Only recently has a measure been developed to assess the satisfaction of these needs (Autin et al., under review), which means that the proposed role of need satisfaction as mediator in the link between decent work and work fulfilment/general well-being has not yet been tested empirically. This formed the objective of this study. The study employed a descriptive research design with a correlational approach. Working individuals residing in South Africa’s Western Cape province (N = 150) rated their work experiences on the decent work scale (DWS), work need satisfaction scale (WNSS), index of job satisfaction (IoJS) scale, and satisfaction with life scale (SWLS). In this sample, adequate healthcare did not fall within the decent work concept. This might be because it is common for working South Africans, especially in lower income brackets, not to receive healthcare benefits, which would thus not be expected. The autonomy and relationship aspects of the SDT self-determination need formed one instead of two separate components. This may be a reflection of low levels of trust in low-income workers, which means that autonomy is only provided if there is a positive relationship. Decent work predicted work fulfilment and individuals’ well-being and, as expected, this relationship was mediated by the fulfilment of the hypothesised needs (survival and power, social connection, SDT relationship + autonomy, and SDT competence). The study thus indicates the applicability of the PWT in the South African context. Organisations should thus be encouraged to provide employees with decent work, as this, in turn, will likely increase employees’ work fulfilment and general wellbeing. DA - 2019 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - psychology of working theory KW - decent work KW - need satisfaction KW - well-being KW - work fulfilment LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2019 T1 - From Decent Work to Decent Lives: An Empirical Test of the Outcomes of Decent Work in the Psychology of Working Theory TI - From Decent Work to Decent Lives: An Empirical Test of the Outcomes of Decent Work in the Psychology of Working Theory UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31416 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/31416
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMalan D. From Decent Work to Decent Lives: An Empirical Test of the Outcomes of Decent Work in the Psychology of Working Theory. []. ,Faculty of Commerce ,Organisational Psychology, 2019 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31416en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentOrganisational Psychology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerce
dc.subjectpsychology of working theory
dc.subjectdecent work
dc.subjectneed satisfaction
dc.subjectwell-being
dc.subjectwork fulfilment
dc.titleFrom Decent Work to Decent Lives: An Empirical Test of the Outcomes of Decent Work in the Psychology of Working Theory
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMCom
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