Beyond AI adoption: Psychological empowerment, work meaning, and employee well-being

Abstract

Introduction/Purpose: this study examines the associations between artificial intelligence use in workplace settings and employee well-being. It also considers work meaning and professional identity, perceived employment uncertainty linked to AI, and AI-related work demands, while addressing how psychological empowerment may influence employees’ reactions to these technological changes.

Methodology: a quantitative. Cross-sectional approach was adopted. The study included 507 employees from six English-speaking countries, based on the AI, Work & Human Identity 2025 dataset developed by Human Clarity Institute (2025). The proposed relationships were examined using PLS-SEM to analyse the associations amongst the study variables and the corresponding mediation effects.

Results: the findings indicate that work meaning and identity, together with psychological empowerment related to AI use, were positively linked to employee well-being, while perceived job threat was negative association with well-being, psychological empowerment presented a partial mediating effect between work meaning and identity and employee well-being.

Conclusions: the findings suggest that the relationship between AI and employee well-being is influenced by specific psychological mechanisms.