La satisfaction des trois besoins fondamentaux peut-elle contribuer à la performance? : l’apport de la santé psychologique

The following thesis addresses the prediction of performance based on the Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT; Deci & Ryan, 2000). This thesis, composed of three articles, proposes that the satisfaction of the three basic needs predicts individual performance by enhancing their psychological health at work, as well as validate an instrument measuring satisfaction of the three basic needs at work. The first article reviews the scientific literature on the links between the satisfaction of the three basic needs, psychological health at work, and job performance. Based on conclusions drawn thereupon, an explanatory model of job performance based on self-determination theory is proposed.  The second article’s objective is to present and validate a measure of satisfaction of the three basic needs in the workplace. A first study in a sample of Quebecois workers allowed the three expected factors (need for autonomy, need for competence, need for relatedness) to emerge using an exploratory method. Correlation analyses using criteria such as optimism, procedural justice, well-being at work, distress at work, and intrinsic motivation was also realised, in order to support the criterion validity of the instrument.  In the second study, an analysis of structural invariance in samples of Quebecois and French teachers showed that the instrument had comparable psychometric properties in both samples, further supporting the validity of the instrument. Correlation analyses using the same criteria as in the first study were also performed. The results point to the instrument having sound psychometric qualities. Limitations and contributions of the results are also presented. The third article examines the relationship between satisfaction of each of the three basic needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), psychological health, and task performance in a sample of teachers. Specifically, this article attempts to validate the model outlined in article 1, whereby psychological heath acts as mediator of the relationship between the three basic needs and job performance. The results of structural equation analyses revealed a complete effect of mediation of psychological health in the relationships for autonomy and relatedness with task performance in teachers. However, a partial mediation of psychological health was found between the need for competence and task performance. These findings are discussed, along with limitations and directions for future research. Finally, the thesis’ conclusion summarizes the results of the entire research. The results of structural equation analyses presented in the third article suggests that the basic psychological needs could potentially predict performance through psychological health. However, it is important to keep in mind that the generalization of the results is limited by the thesis’ limitations such as the use of self-reported instruments, wich might increase biases of common variances.

Keyphrases: performance, psychological health at work, basic psychological need satisfaction, self determination theory, scale validation