文献类型：期刊文献

英文题名：Autonomous or controlled motivation? How playful work design shapes employee workplace well-being

作者：Ali, Aamir[1];Li, Anya[1];Chen, Wansi[1]

机构：[1]East China Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Business, 130 Meilong Rd, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China

年份：2026

卷号：83

外文期刊名：NEW IDEAS IN PSYCHOLOGY

收录：;Scopus(收录号：2-s2.0-105044565001);WOS:【SSCI(收录号:WOS:001823364600001)】；

语种：英文

外文关键词：Playful work design; Autonomous motivation; Controlled motivation; Meaningfulness; Employee workplace well-being

摘要：Amid growing concerns about employee psychological strain and declining workplace well-being, scholars have increasingly focused on the self-initiated approaches. Within this stream, playful work design (PWD) has gained importance as a promising strategy through which employees infuse their work with fun and challenge in ways that promote positive work-related states. Drawing on self-determination theory (SDT), this study examines the relationship between PWD and employee workplace well-being. Specifically, we propose that autonomous motivation and controlled motivation may mediate this relationship, and meaningfulness may moderate these pathways. Using three-wave data from full-time employees in Pakistan (N = 521), we find that PWD is positively associated with employee workplace well-being. Autonomous and controlled motivation mediated this relationship. Moreover, meaningfulness significantly moderates the relationships between PWD and both forms of motivation, while its indirect effect remains contingent upon the levels of meaningfulness. By uncovering the motivational processes and boundary conditions, this study contributes to advancing literature on both PWD and SDT. It also offers practical insights into how organizations can cultivate employee workplace well-being through self-initiated work behaviors.