Leadership for All Ages

Abstract

Integrating self-determination theory (SDT) and age-differentiated leadership (ADL), this thesis examined whether ADL predicts employee motivation through the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (BPNS), whether BPNS mediates the relationship between ADL and employee motivation, and if employees' chronological age influences these relationships. Data was collected using validated measures from an online sample of full-time workers from the United States (N = 266). Results indicated that ADL was significantly positively associated with BPNS, and BPNS was significantly positively associated with autonomous motivation, supporting BPNS as a key explanatory mechanism linking ADL to high-quality motivation. BPNS did not significantly predict controlled motivation, and ADL did not significantly reduce controlled motivation, suggesting that ADL may function more effectively as a promotive mechanism that enhances positive motivational states rather than as a buffer against pressure-based motivation. Results supported a significant indirect effect of ADL on autonomous motivation through BPNS, whereas an indirect effect through controlled motivation was not supported. Contrary to expectations, chronological age did not significantly moderate any primary direct, indirect, or exploratory pathways, including models examining ADL subsets (younger-focused, older-focused, and balanced ADL) and individual psychological needs separately. Exploratory analyses further suggested that all ADL subsets were positively associated with BPNS and autonomous motivation, while competence emerged as a particularly strong pathway linking ADL to autonomous motivation. In doing so, this thesis provides evidence for the pathways that explain how ADL behaviors support employee motivation through BPNS, and that motivational effects of ADL operate through universal psychological need satisfaction that account for age-related changes as proposed. Additionally, this paper provides evidence-based insights into leadership behaviors that can support employee motivation across the lifespan.