The Mediating Role of Psychological Needs in the Association Between Work Values and Well‐Being Indicators

ABSTRACT The present study investigated the mediating role of basic psychological needs at work in the association between work values to three outcomes related to psychological well‐being at work: work engagement, turnover intention, and emotional exhaustion. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data from two French–Canadian samples of adult workers ( N 1 = 479; N 2 = 652). Results suggested that intrinsic–social work values promote well‐being at work. Moreover, this study highlights the psychological cost of endorsing extrinsic and status work values. Meanwhile, psychological need satisfaction at work mediated the association between intrinsic–social work values and two outcomes: work engagement and turnover intention. Also, psychological need frustration at work mediated the association between extrinsic work values and emotional exhaustion. These findings suggest that career development and organizational interventions should promote intrinsic–social work values to enhance and support psychological well‐being at work.