Psychological Need Satisfaction, Personal Well-Being, and Ecological Sustainability

Ecopsychology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Kasser
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. e187-e197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zareen Pervez Bharucha ◽  
Netta Weinstein ◽  
Dave Watson ◽  
Steffen Boehm

Abstract Background Studies suggest that local food may contribute to well-being, but do not use standardized measures, or control groups. Methods An online survey compared participants of local food initiatives (n = 302) with members of the general population (n = 157) in terms of scores on standardized measures of well-being and distress. Using hierarchical ordinary least squares regression models, we explored the relationship between participation and well-being via four mediators—nature connectedness, psychological need satisfaction, diet and physical activity. Results Participants scored higher than non-participants on life satisfaction (t(346) = 2.30, P = 0.02, ρr = 0.12) and the WEMWBS scale (t(335) = 2.12, P = 0.04, ρr = 0.10), but differences in psychological distress were insignificant. More actively engaged participants scored higher on positive well-being and longer duration participation was associated with higher life satisfaction and less psychological distress. Finally, we found that participation contributes to psychological need satisfaction, better diet and connection to nature, three known drivers of well-being. Conclusions Well-being may be a co-benefit of local food initiatives beyond the physical and psychological benefits of growing food. Further research is needed to explore the mediators driving these effects, quantify benefits, and track impacts over time and across different social groups.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Doménech-Betoret ◽  
Susana Lloret-Segura ◽  
Amparo Gómez-Artiga

AbstractBased on Job Demands-Resources Model (JD-R), this study examines the relationships among teacher support resources, psychological need satisfaction, engagement and burnout in a sample of 282 Spanish secondary school teachers. Nine teacher psychological needs were identified based on the study of Bess and on the Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Self-report questionnaires were used to measure the constructs selected for this study and their interrelationships were examined by structural equation modeling. The results reveal a good model fit to the data (NNFI = .88; CFI = .90; GFI = .90; RMSEA = .061). The analyses indicate a positive and significant effect of latent variable Psychological Need Satisfaction on engagement (β = .74, p < .05), and a negative and significant effect on burnout (β = -.78, p ≤ .05). Furthermore, the results show the mediator role played by Psychological Need Satisfaction in the relationship between teacher support resources and both engagement and burnout (additional paths did not improve the model fit: Δχ2(2) = 2.428, p = .29). Finally, practical implications of these findings are discussed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Stebbings ◽  
Ian M. Taylor ◽  
Christopher M. Spray

Within the self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) framework, research has considered the consequences of coaches’ autonomy supportive and controlling behaviors on various athlete outcomes (e.g., motivation and performance). The antecedents of such behaviors, however, have received little attention. Coaches (N = 443) from a variety of sports and competitive levels completed a self-report questionnaire to assess their psychological need satisfaction, well-being and perceived interpersonal behaviors toward their athletes. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that coaches’ competence and autonomy need satisfaction positively predicted their levels of psychological well-being, as indexed by positive affect and subjective vitality. In turn, coaches’ psychological well-being positively predicted their perceived autonomy support toward their athletes, and negatively predicted their perceived controlling behaviors. Overall, the results highlight the importance of coaching contexts that facilitate coaches’ psychological need satisfaction and well-being, thereby increasing the likelihood of adaptive coach interpersonal behavior toward athletes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Martela ◽  
Kennon M. Sheldon

Interest in the experience of well-being, as both a research topic and as a policy goal, has significantly increased in recent decades. Although subjective well-being (SWB)—composed of positive affect, low negative affect, and life satisfaction—is the most commonly used measure of well-being, many experts have argued that another important dimension of well-being, often referred to as eudaimonic well-being (EWB), should be measured alongside SWB. EWB, however, has been operationalized in at least 45 different ways, using measures of at least 63 different constructs. These diverse measurement strategies often have little overlap, leading to discrepant results and making the findings of different studies difficult to compare. Building on the Eudaimonic Activity Model, we propose a tripartite conception of well-being, distinguishing between eudaimonic motives/activities, psychological need satisfaction, and SWB, arguing that the needs category provides a parsimonious set of elements at the core of the well-being construct. Based on the self-determination theory claim that all human beings share evolved psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, we show that satisfaction of all three needs directly affect SWB and other health and wellness outcomes, can efficiently explain the effects of various behaviors and conditions upon well-being outcomes, and are universally impactful across cultures. We conclude that routinely measuring psychological needs alongside SWB within national and international surveys would give policymakers a parsimonious way to assess eudaimonic dimensions of wellness and provide powerful mediator variables for explaining how various cultural, economic, and social factors concretely affect citizens’ well-being and health.


Rheumatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A Ingram ◽  
Peter C Rouse ◽  
Martyn Standage ◽  
Elizabeth Reilly ◽  
Raj Sengupta

Abstract Background People living with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) often suffer poor psychological health. Social support has been identified as one way to enhance psychological well-being, yet little research has examined the relationship between quality of support provided by important others and indicators of well-being in people living with nr-axSpA. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine whether important other autonomy support predicts symptoms of subjective vitality, depression and anxiety and test if this relationship is mediated by the three innate basic psychological needs (autonomy - a sense of ownership and volition over actions and behaviours; competence - feeling effective and capable of achieving valued outcomes; relatedness - experiencing closeness and genuine connection, with valued others) as specified by Self Determination Theory (SDT). Methods Sixty three participants living with nr-axSpA (M Age = 43.16 years; SD = 11.17; female = 58.73%) were recruited from a specialist rheumatology hospital via the Bath Spondyloarthritis Biobank. Spinal mobility was assessed using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (M = 1.83; SD = 1.2; range = 5). Questionnaires measuring important other autonomy support, basic psychological need satisfaction, subjective vitality, depression severity and anxiety severity were completed. Mediation analyses were conducted via three linear regressions and bootstrapping for subjective vitality, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Results Important other autonomy support was significantly and positively related to subjective vitality (β = .32, p = .01), and significantly and negatively related to symptoms of depression (β = -.32, p = .02) and anxiety (β = -.31, p = .03). Important other autonomy support also demonstrated a significant positive relationship with basic psychological need satisfaction (β = .27, p &lt;.05). Basic psychological need satisfaction had a significant positive relationship with subjective vitality (β = .58, p &lt; .01; R2 = .37) and a significant negative relationship with depressive symptoms (β = -.57, p &lt; .01; R2 = .35) and anxiety (β = -.50, p &lt;.01; R2 = .30). Assessment of the indirect effects revealed that basic psychological need satisfaction did not mediate the relationships between important other autonomy support and subjective vitality (b = .15, 95% BC CI -.04, .34), depressive symptoms (b = -.06, 95% BC CI -.16, .01) and anxiety (b = -.08, 95% BC CI -.19, .03). Conclusion Both important other autonomy support and basic psychological needs were significantly related to psychological well-being. Yet, basic psychological need satisfaction did not mediate the relationships between important other autonomy support with subjective vitality, depressive symptoms and anxiety. Healthcare interventions could help important others to improve the quality of their support and try to increase a sense of autonomy, competence and relatedness satisfaction in people living with nr-axSpA to enhance the psychological well-being of people living with nr-axSpA. Disclosures T.A. Ingram None. P.C. Rouse None. M. Standage None. E. Reilly None. R. Sengupta None.


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