Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, Vol 29(4), Dec 2025, 227-245; doi:10.1037/gdn0000242
Objective: With a growing emphasis on making societies more inclusive, the present study examines how people’s perceptions of whether their society provides basic psychological need support or thwarting to their group relate to group members’ well-being and ill-being depending on the extent to which group membership is central to their identity. Method: Participants were Australians (N = 1,994, Mage = 42.15, 51% female) and Americans (N = 1,693, Mage = 41.48, 79.1% female) who self-described as members of either an ethnic, religious, political, or sexual orientation group. Results: In both studies, perceived group need support (vs. thwarting) statistically significantly influenced individual well-being (vs. ill-being) through basic psychological need satisfaction (vs. frustration), an effect that was magnified for sexuality-oriented and political groups in Study 2 when group identity was more central to self-concept. Conclusions: These results highlight how societal conditions at the group level influence the fulfillment of personal basic psychological needs, illustrating the importance of group identification for individual well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)