When Job Performance is All Relative: How Family Motivation Energizes Effort and Compensates for Intrinsic Motivation

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Management Papers
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action identification
energy
family
intrinsic motivation
job performance
monotonous jobs
prosocial motivation
stress
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Intelligence
Human Resources Management
Labor Relations
Management Information Systems
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
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Menges, Jochen I
Tussing, Danielle V
Wihler, Andreas
Grant, Adam M
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Abstract

Supporting one’s family is a major reason why many people work, yet surprisingly little research has examined the implications of family motivation. Drawing on theories of prosocial motivation and action identification, we propose that family motivation increases job performance by enhancing energy and reducing stress, and it is especially important when intrinsic motivation is lacking. Survey and diary data collected across multiple time points in a Mexican maquiladora generally support our model. Specifically, we find that family motivation enhances job performance when intrinsic motivation is low—in part by providing energy, but not by reducing stress. We conclude that supporting a family provides a powerful source of motivation that can boost performance in the workplace, offering meaningful implications for research on motivation and the dynamics of work and family engagement.

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2017-04-01
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Academy of Management Journal
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