A meta-analysis of core self-evaluations and employee performance: Investigating the mediating role of intrinsic motivation

Danyang Wang^1,2, Yuxiang Luan^3,*
1 School of Business Administration, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan, China
2 School of Accounting, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan, China
3 Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
* Corresponding Author: Yuxiang Luan. Email: email

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2026.067889

Received 15 May 2025; Accepted 26 June 2026; Published online 26 August 2026

Abstract

This study utilized meta-analysis to examine the mediating effect of intrinsic motivation in the relationship between core self-evaluations (CSE) and employee performance. We extracted 82 independent studies encompassing a total sample size of 26,903 participants for analysis. Inclusion criteria were: (a) empirical studies using workplace samples; (b) reported zero-order correlations between CSE and performance; (c) individual-level analysis; (d) direct measurement of CSE; and (e) English-language publications. Exclusion criteria included student samples, non-empirical papers, and studies without sufficient effect sizes. The analysis included 103 correlations and meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) controlling for age, sex, tenure. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) Higher CSE is associated with task performance (ρ = 0.32), organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) (ρ = 0.26), creative performance (ρ = 0.36), and voice behavior (ρ = 0.26); and (2) Intrinsic motivation played a significant mediating role in the relationships of CSE with task performance, OCB, and creative performance; (3) Research design exhibited a significant moderating effects with self-reported data compared to other-reported performance data. These meta-analysis findings add to self-determination theory propositions of how core self-evaluations satisfy the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness to promote intrinsic motivation, and further enhance employee task performance, organizational citizenship behavior and creative performance. HR managers should consider CSE and performance, along with practical implications for human resource management practices, such as recruitment and selection.