The Interplay of Idiosyncratic Deals and Social Exchange in Quality Employment: The Role of Autonomy Need Satisfaction

Abstract

Idiosyncratic deals (i - deals) have been conceptually and empirically linked to work - related outcomes among employees. However, when and how i - deals impact intern students’ employment quality remains unclear. Drawing from self - determination theory, we investigated the influence of i - deals on two distinct employment quality outcomes: proactive work behavior and job burnout, and explored the mediating role of autonomy need satisfaction in these relationships. In addition, from the perspective of social exchange, we also hypothesized that i - deals stimulate proactive work behavior when students report a higher level of social exchange action and experience more job burnout when they show fewer exchange behaviors. Using a cross - sectional study, we surveyed 369 Chinese intern students from 15 vocational and technical education institutions using a cluster random sampling technique. Structural equation modelling and hierarchical regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that autonomy need satisfaction mediated the relationships between i - deals and proactive work behavior as well as job burnout. In addition, social exchange was also found to be a significant moderator of the relationship between i - deals and job burnout rather than proactive work behavior. Specifically, the negative effect of i - deals on burnout was weakened as social exchange increased. Contributions and implications were discussed.