Needs-based crafting: the antecedents and outcomes of employees’ crafting in different life domains

Needs-based crafting is a proactive approach in which employees intentionally align their activities with their psychological needs. Focusing on the role of six psychological needs outlined by Newman, Tay, and Diener’s DRAMMA model (i.e., detachment, relaxation, autonomy, mastery, meaning, and affiliation), this dissertation explores the antecedents and outcomes of needs-based crafting in both work and non-work contexts. The dissertation comprises four publications stemming from three research projects. The first publication uncovers the relationships between focus on opportunities at work, psychological needs, and needs-based job and off-job crafting among 346 Finnish employees. The second publication explores the daily trajectories of energy and needs-based crafting in a sample of 110 employees participating in an experience sampling methodology study. The results illuminate how daily crafting positively influences energy levels over the course of the day, particularly during mornings and afternoons. The third publication describes the design and development of an off-job crafting intervention consisting of two group-based, in-person workshops and use of a smartphone app. Results described in the fourth publication show a modest impact of the off-job crafting intervention on off-job crafting, psychological needs satisfaction, and well-being among 86 Finnish employees. Taken together, this dissertation provides insights into the motivational drivers of needs-based crafting, its role in daily energy management, and the effectiveness of crafting interventions. The findings suggest practical implications for individuals aiming to align their daily activities with their psychological needs and offer guidance for organizations seeking to cultivate supportive crafting practices.