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The mediating role of positive and negative affect in the situational motivation-performance relationship

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Abstract

Based on self-determination theory (Deci and Ryan in Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum Publishing Co., New York, 1985) and the broaden-and-build theory (Fredrickson in Am Psychol 56:218–226, 2001), the purpose of the present research was to propose and test an integrative model on the role of positive and negative affect as mediators of the situational motivation-performance relationship. Specifically, the hypothesized model posits that autonomous motivation predicts positive affect, while controlled motivation and amotivation both lead to negative affect. In addition, amotivation negatively predicts positive affect. In turn, positive and negative affect positively and negatively predict performance, respectively. The model was confirmed in three studies using correlational (Studies 1 and 2) and experimental designs (Study 3) with a cognitive task (anagrams). In addition, the role of individual differences (Study 2) and situational factors (Study 3) as triggers of the “Motivation-Affect-Performance” sequence was confirmed. Theoretical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

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Notes

  1. We have tested other alternative models. Results revealed that these alternative models exhibited a worse fit than the hypothesized model. For sake of brevity these alternative models are not reported here. They can be obtained through the first author.

  2. As in Study 1, we have tested other alternative models. Results revealed that these alternative models exhibited a worse fit than the hypothesized model. For sake of brevity these alternative models are not reported here. They can be obtained through the first author.

  3. As in Studies 1 and 2, we have tested other alternative models. Results revealed that these alternative models exhibited a worse fit than the hypothesized model. For sake of brevity these alternative models are not reported here. They can be obtained through the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EA 2114 Psychologie des Âges de la Vie, Département de Psychologie, Université François-Rabelais de Tours, U.F.R Arts et Sciences Humaines, 3 rue des Tanneurs, B.P. 4103, 37041, Tours Cedex 1, France

    Nicolas Gillet

  2. Laboratoire de Recherche sur le Comportement Social, Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Robert J. Vallerand & Marc-André K. Lafrenière

  3. Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Julien S. Bureau

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  1. Nicolas Gillet
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  2. Robert J. Vallerand
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  3. Marc-André K. Lafrenière
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  4. Julien S. Bureau
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Correspondence to Nicolas Gillet.

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Gillet, N., Vallerand, R.J., Lafrenière, MA.K. et al. The mediating role of positive and negative affect in the situational motivation-performance relationship. Motiv Emot 37, 465–479 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-012-9314-5

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