TY - JOUR
T1 - A Self-Determination Theory Approach to Work Motivation of Autistic Adults
T2 - A Qualitative Exploratory Study
AU - Goldfarb, Yael
AU - Golan, Ofer
AU - Gal, Eynat
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2023/4/1
Y1 - 2023/4/1
N2 - The study explores work motivation of autistic adults through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Twelve autistic employees (ages 28–47; 3 females) participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews about their work experience. Analysis combined inductive and deductive approaches, identifying motivational themes emerging from the interviews, and analyzing them according to SDT concepts. Two major themes emerged: (1) work motivation factors positioned on the self-determination continuum: income and self-reliance; a daily routine; social/familial internalized norms; meaning and contribution; and job interest; and (2) satisfaction of psychological needs at work, postulated by SDT: competence, social-relatedness, and autonomy and structure. Findings are discussed in relation to current literature, and practical applications are suggested for meeting the motivational needs of autistic employees and promoting employment stability.
AB - The study explores work motivation of autistic adults through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Twelve autistic employees (ages 28–47; 3 females) participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews about their work experience. Analysis combined inductive and deductive approaches, identifying motivational themes emerging from the interviews, and analyzing them according to SDT concepts. Two major themes emerged: (1) work motivation factors positioned on the self-determination continuum: income and self-reliance; a daily routine; social/familial internalized norms; meaning and contribution; and job interest; and (2) satisfaction of psychological needs at work, postulated by SDT: competence, social-relatedness, and autonomy and structure. Findings are discussed in relation to current literature, and practical applications are suggested for meeting the motivational needs of autistic employees and promoting employment stability.
KW - Autistic adults
KW - Employment
KW - Self-determination theory
KW - Work motivation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123465132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10803-021-05185-4
DO - 10.1007/s10803-021-05185-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 34263411
AN - SCOPUS:85123465132
SN - 0162-3257
VL - 53
SP - 1529
EP - 1542
JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
IS - 4
ER -