Reflections of self-concept clarity at work: the mediating role of psychological empowerment on the relationship between self-concept clarity and intrinsic motivation

Abstract

Background: We examined the relationships between self-concept clarity, a relatively new addition to the organizational behavior literature, and the well-established constructs of psychological empowerment and intrinsic motivation. We also aim to examine if psychological empowerment mediates the relationship between self-concept clarity and intrinsic motivation. By integrating self-determination theory and conservation of resources theory, the study offers a novel perspective on how internal psychological resources shape work-related motivation. Methods: We implemented A cross-sectional study design to test the hypothesis. We collected data from 345 full-time employees across various sectors in the Marmara region, in Türkiye. Results: The findings reveal that self-concept clarity, as a personality trait, is associated with employees’ sense of meaning, competence, autonomy, and impact in the workplace, enabling them to feel psychologically empowered. Furthermore, self-concept clarity is positively related to intrinsic motivation. The results also demonstrate that psychological empowerment plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between self-concept clarity and intrinsic motivation. Conclusions: This study serves as a foundation for the examination of self-concept clarity in the organizational behavior literature, particularly in relation to employee motivation.