A Meta-Analytic Investigation of the Relationship between Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Affect

Abstract

Self Determination Theory proposes that psychological needs satisfaction is associated with high positive affect and low negative affect. The present study consolidated effect sizes from previous research on the relationship of satisfaction of autonomy, competence and relatedness needs with positive affect and negative affect, and identified moderators of the relationships. The basic need satisfaction and positive affect meta-analyses included 16 samples for autonomy, 16 for competence, and 16 for relatedness, with 7335, 6832, and 6710 participants, respectively. Across studies, higher positive affect was significantly associated with greater autonomy satisfaction (<i>r</i>=.39), competence satisfaction (<i>r</i>=.45), and relatedness satisfaction (<i>r</i>=.39). The basic need satisfaction and negative affect meta-analyses included 11 samples for autonomy, 13 for competence, and 11 for relatedness, with 5114 participants, 5481 participants, and 5114 participants, respectively. Across studies, lower negative affect was significantly associated with greater autonomy satisfaction (<i>r</i>=-.30), competence satisfaction (<i>r</i>=-.33), and relatedness satisfaction (<i>r</i>=-.30). Moderator analyses found that gender composition, sample type, and basic need satisfaction measure were related to the strength of associations.