Spatial density, basic psychological needs satisfaction and workplace attachment styles: a multigroup mediation model

Within the theoretical framework of Self-Determination Theory and Attachment theory, the aim of the present study is to understand whether the spatial density of offices, through the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, affects secure, avoidant, and preoccupied workplace attachment styles. The research was conducted with the voluntary participation of 190 office employees and employed a research design with three time points. At Time 0, information was collected regarding office size, the number of workers, and other sociodemographic variables. At Time 1 and Time 2, the satisfaction of basic psychological needs related to the office environment and the workplace attachment styles of employees were measured. The results show that spatial density impacts positively secure and negatively avoidant and preoccupied attachment styles, with the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for competence and relatedness mediating this relationship. Practical implications are discussed.