Parental Support for Basic Psychological Needs and Happiness: The Importance of Sense of Uniqueness

Past empirical research relying on self-determination theory (SDT) has consistently shown that parental support of basic psychological
needs (BPN) is associated with adolescent happiness. Yet, the specific mechanisms accounting for this link are still undetermined.
The present study aimed to address this gap in the literature by testing a theoretical model proposing that adolescents’ satisfaction
of BPN in life and sense of uniqueness mediate the association of parental support for BPN and happiness. The analyses relied
on structural equation modeling and bootstrapping procedures and found support for the model. The theoretical implications
of the model for SDT and applied considerations to improve the well-being of adolescents are discussed. Also, suggestions
for future research that could further improve our understanding of the dynamic interplay between BPN, sense of uniqueness
and happiness are presented.