Perceived Organizational Support, Motivation, and Engagement Among Police Officers

Using self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2008) as a guiding theoretical framework, the present research tested a model that incorporates (a) police officers’ perceptions of organizational and supervisor support (i.e., the degree to which organizations or supervisors value the police officers’ contributions and care about their well-being); (b) global, domain specific (i.e., work) and situational (i.e., in a training session) motivation; and (c) engagement. The hypothesized model was tested using two samples of police officers. In Study 1, results revealed that work motivation was significantly related to both intraindividual (global motivation) and contextual (organizational support) factors. In addition, self-determined work motivation was positively related to work engagement. Using a cross-sectional design with multiple measurement points, these results were replicated at the situational level (i.e., in a training session) in Study 2. The present results underscore the importance of understanding the mechanisms through which work engagement can be enhanced. Specifically, to improve police officers’ work engagement, organizations and supervisors must attempt to promote the police officers’ self-determined motivation.