The reciprocal relationships between satisfaction of basic psychological need and adolescents’ subjective well-being

Authors

  • R. Garckija
  • S. RaižienÄ—
  • I. GabrialavičiÅ«tÄ—

Abstract

Background. Self-determination theory (SDT) suggests that, to the extent that social contexts support a person‘s basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, they facilitate greater well-being. Subjective vitality has been conceptualized as the psychological experience of possessing enthusiasm, energy, and aliveliness. To our knowledge, there is a shortage of information about the direction of the relationship between subjective well-being and satisfaction of basic psychological needs in SDT. This study aimed to evaluate the cross-lagged relationships between satisfaction of basic psychological needs and subjective well-being over six-month period in late adolescents. Methods. The current study is a part of the ongoing longitudinal research project that aims to examine the dynamic interaction between and mechanisms of satisfaction of basic psychological needs and adolescents’ adjustment. The analysis will be based on the data of wave 2 and wave 3. The participants are 781 students of 1st – 3rd grades of seven high school. The research instruments are Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale children version, Subjective vitality scale. Expected results. We expect to find that higher level of satisfaction of basic psychological needs at T2 will predict the subjective vitality level at T3, meaning that the positive outcomes of satisfying basic psychological needs will remain over six month period. There is a possibility that higher levels of subjective vitality at T2 will predict the satisfaction of basic psychological needs at T3, as having higher levels of energy and well-being might enable students to find more opportunities for needs satisfaction.

Published

2017-12-31

Issue

Section

Poster presentations