Abstract
What is the relationship between well-being and satisfaction of basic psychological needs overtime? The basic psychological
needs theory is a subtheory of the self-determination theory that elaborates the concept of psychological needs and its relations
to psychological health and well-being. The goals of this research was to establish the causal ordering between basic psychological
needs and three psychological well-being indicators (subjective well-being, self-esteem and satisfaction with life), in a
longitudinal study. We used a cross-lagged two-wave design. A total of 272 university students completed the questionnaire
at the beginning and at the end of the semester. Relatedness at time 1 (T1) had a positive and significant effect on all well-being indicators at time 2 (T2); competence (T1) had a positive and significant effect on all indicators except for self-esteem (T2); finally, autonomy (T1) did not have a significant effect on any of the well-being indicators (T2). In conclusion, we confirm the causal ordering of competence and relatedness on well-being, according to the basic psychological
needs subtheory. Universities, in general, and teachers, in particular, should promote relations between students and support
the need of competence.
needs theory is a subtheory of the self-determination theory that elaborates the concept of psychological needs and its relations
to psychological health and well-being. The goals of this research was to establish the causal ordering between basic psychological
needs and three psychological well-being indicators (subjective well-being, self-esteem and satisfaction with life), in a
longitudinal study. We used a cross-lagged two-wave design. A total of 272 university students completed the questionnaire
at the beginning and at the end of the semester. Relatedness at time 1 (T1) had a positive and significant effect on all well-being indicators at time 2 (T2); competence (T1) had a positive and significant effect on all indicators except for self-esteem (T2); finally, autonomy (T1) did not have a significant effect on any of the well-being indicators (T2). In conclusion, we confirm the causal ordering of competence and relatedness on well-being, according to the basic psychological
needs subtheory. Universities, in general, and teachers, in particular, should promote relations between students and support
the need of competence.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11205-012-0143-4
- Authors
- Jaime León, Department of Education, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/. Santa Juana de Arco 1, 35004 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Juan L. Núñez, Department of Education, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, C/. Santa Juana de Arco 1, 35004 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Journal Social Indicators Research
- Online ISSN 1573-0921
- Print ISSN 0303-8300