Merly Kosenkranius examined needs-based crafting through satisfaction of the six psychological needs outlined by the DRAMMA model: detachment from work, relaxation, autonomy, mastery, meaning, and affiliation (Newman, Tay, & Diener, 2014). In her dissertation, Kosenkranius utilized different research designs to investigate the antecedents and outcomes of needs-based crafting in both work and non-work contexts.
The dissertation consists of four scientific publications. In the first publication, employees’ DRAMMA needs seem to spark higher engagement in needs-based crafting in both work and non-work contexts. Importantly, employees’ perceptions of more opportunities awaiting in their professional future resulted in higher mastery, meaning, and affiliation needs which, in turn, motivated them to engage in crafting for these needs in both life domains.
The second publication zoomed in on employees’ daily energy and needs-based crafting trajectories. Study participants received eight short surveys per day on their smartphones.
“This intensive longitudinal data collection method allowed us to show that on days when employees crafted more than they usual do, their energy levels were higher, particularly in the morning and afternoon,” Kosenkranius explains.
The third and fourth publications of the dissertation centered around a crafting intervention developed to enhance employees’ off-job crafting efforts. The intervention study was conducted in several organizations in Finland.
“Despite the results of the study being somewhat disappointing, only showing a modest impact of the intervention on participants’ off-job crafting efforts, psychological needs satisfaction, and well-being, this was the research project I enjoyed working on the most. While implementing the intervention came with various practical challenges, it was also an amazing opportunity to collaborate with a great interdisciplinary team of researchers and practitioners, and to engage in insightful conversations about current working life with our participants,” Kosenkranius says.
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.
“Needs-based crafting is a way for employees to reflect on their individual needs and proactively adjust their daily lives to feel more energized. It could be promoted as a preventive well-being tool by the occupational health services,” proposes Kosenkranius.
Public defence on Thursday 19 October
The doctoral dissertation of M.Sc. Merly Kosenkranius in the field of work and organizational psychology titled Needs-based crafting: the antecedents and outcomes of employees’ crafting in different life domains will be publicly examined at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands on Thursday 19 October 2023 at 14.30 (CEST) at Aula, Academy Building (Broerstraat 5, Groningen, the Netherlands).
Merly Kosenkranius is completing a double doctoral degree at Tampere University and the University of Groningen. Her opponents are professor Sandra Brouwer, Onne Janssen, Anita Keller, Atte Oksanen, and Paraskevas Petrou. The custos is docent Jessica de Bloom from Tampere University who is also a professor at the University of Groningen. The dissertation was supervised by De Bloom and professor Floor Rink from the University of Groningen.
The doctoral dissertation is available online.
The public defence can be followed via a remote connection. (University of Groningen's website)
Please note that the event begins at 14:30 CET that is at 15.30 Finnish time.
Photograph: R. Kosenkranius