Universal Basic Income and Autonomous Work Motivation: Influences on Trajectories of Mental Health in Employees

The study contributes to research on Universal Basic Income (UBI) by examining mental health trajectories in working individuals who received a monthly UBI payment of €1,000 for the duration of one year. We assessed data from 357 recipients of additional income provided by a crowdfunding association in Germany. Participants reported their life satisfaction, well-being, work motivation, and needs satisfaction at up to three semi-annual measurement occasions, the first of which was scheduled at the onset of UBI payments. Specifically, we focused on the effects of autonomous work motivation as (a) a predictor of change in life satisfaction and well-being and (b) a mediator between needs satisfaction at work and mental health. We conducted Latent Growth Curve Models (LGCM) and Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models (RI-CLPM). Results of the LGCM indicated growth in life satisfaction and well-being during UBI payment. Autonomous motivation was a robust, positive predictor of initial levels of life satisfaction and well-being, both as time-invariant covariate (TIC) and time-varying covariate (TVC). Moreover, low initial autonomous motivation was associated with greater increase of life satisfaction and well-being. Using a RI-CLPM, we found strong support for the mediating effect of autonomous motivation. Furthermore, gender and income were significant predictors of initial life satisfaction and well-being in most of our models. Women and low-income earners tended to report lower levels of life satisfaction and well-being. The results are discussed focusing on the role of autonomous motivation for psychological health in the context of UBI and occupational health promotion more generally.