Abstract:
It is well known that low levels of job control are problematic, but research has recently begun to examine whether the same can be true for too much job control. Based on self‐determination theory and the vitamin model, we investigate the relationship between job control and psychological needs within and beyond the work context, and the moderating effects of leisure crafting. We assume that not only too little, but also too much job control can negatively affect the satisfaction of context‐free psychological needs (the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) through frustrated needs at work. By examining the moderating role of leisure crafting, we further seek to shed light on strategies that may counteract the spillover of frustrated needs in the work context to other life domains. To test our model, we conducted a longitudinal study with 248 employees who completed four surveys over the course of 6 weeks. We found support for a curvilinear relationship between job control and frustrated psychological needs at work (most notably autonomy and competence needs) that further extends to reduced context‐free needs satisfaction. Leisure crafting counteracts a negative spillover (for autonomy and competence needs).