Background: Individuals who experience negative life events may be at increased risk for suicidal behavior. Intrapersonal characteristics, such as basic psychological needs, however, may buffer this association. Aims: To assess the potential moderating role of overall basic psychological needs, and the separate components of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, on the association between negative life events and suicidal behavior. MethodOur sample of 439 college students (311 females, 71%) completed the following self-report surveys: Life Events Scale, Basic Psychological Needs Scale, Beck Depression Inventory ; II, and the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised. Results: In support of our hypotheses, negative life events were associated with greater levels of suicidal ideation and attempts, and satisfaction of basic psychological needs, including autonomy, relatedness, and competence, significantly moderated this relationship, over and above the effects of the covariates of age, sex, and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Suicidal behavior associated with the experience of negative life events is not inevitable. Therapeutically bolstering competence, autonomy, and relatedness may be an important suicide prevention strategy for individuals experiencing life stressors.

Associations between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness with current suicidal ideation and risk for suicidal behavior were examined. Two logistic regressions were conducted with a cross-sectional database of 440 university students to examine the association of need satisfaction with suicidal ideation and risk for suicidal behavior, while controlling for demographics and depressive symptoms. Suicidal ideation was reported by 15% of participants and 18% were found to be at risk for suicidal behavior. A one standard deviation increase in need satisfaction reduced the odds of suicidal ideation by 53%, OR (95% CI) = 0.47 (0.33–0.67), and the odds of being at risk for suicidal behavior by 50%, OR (95% CI) = 0.50 (0.37–0.69). Young adults whose basic psychological needs are met may be less likely to consider suicide and engage in suicidal behavior. Prospective research is needed to confirm these associations.

Health behavior change may prevent many fatal diseases, and may be influenced by social and motivational constructs. We assessed the interaction effect of future time perspective and basic psychological need fulfillment on positive and negative health behaviors. Future time perspective was associated with more positive, and less negative, health behaviors. Need fulfillment was associated with only positive health behaviors. In moderation analyses, individuals reporting both high need fulfillment and future perspective reported greater positive health behaviors, and were especially unlikely to smoke. Enhancing future-mindedness and supporting need satisfaction in interventions targeting modifiable health behaviors is encouraged.

This study examined academic motivation and basic psychological needs as predictors of suicidal risk (namely, depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors) in a sample of 348 college students. Results from regression analyses indicated that academic motivation was a significant predictor of suicidal risk. The inclusion of basic psychological needs significantly augmented the prediction model. The authors discuss implications for considering academic motivation and basic psychological needs in college counseling on the basis of the results.

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between motivational profile, self-efficacy, basic needs satisfaction, exercise behavior and well-being among Swedish university students. A set of the instruments including GLTEQ, SHIS, BPNES, BREQ-2 and BARSE was distributed at a university in southern Sweden. The respondents (n = 260) were men (n = 122) and women (n = 138). For analysis and processing of the gathered data SPSS was used with Pearson's r and Multiple Regression Analysis. The results showed that competence, autonomy and relatedness were positive predictors of self-determined motivation, whilst identified regulation, intrinsic regulation and barrier self-efficacy were positive predictors for strenuous exercise. Moreover a regression analysis showed that only competence was a significant predictor for well-being, however, positive correlations were shown between all the basic needs and well-being. To promote university students exercise and well-being, the conclusion is that it most probably would be successful to base interventions with focus on basic needs satisfaction. / Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka relationer mellan motivations profil, self-efficacy, de gundläggande psykologiska behoven, motionsvanor samt välbefinnande bland svenska universitets studenter. Ett frågeformulär bestående av instrumenten GLTEQ, SHIS, BPNES, BREQ-2 och BARSE distribuerades vid ett universitet i södra Sverige. Respondenterna (n=260) var män (n=122) och kvinnor (n=138). För analys och bearbetning av den insamlade datan användes SPSS med analysmetoderna Pearson's r och Multipla Regressionsanalyser. Resultaten visade att kompetens, autonomi och tillhörighet var positiva prediktorer för självbestämmande motivation, medan identifierad reglering, inre reglering samt barriärspecifik självtillit var positiva prediktorer för ansträngande motion. Vidare visade resultaten att endast kompetens var en positiv prediktor för välbefinande, dock så påvisades positiva samband mellan alla de grundläggande psykologiska behoven och välbefinnande. För att främja universitets studenters motionsvanor och välbefinnande är slutsaten att det sannolikt vore framgångsrikt att basera interventioner utifrån tillfredställande av de grundläggande psykologiska behoven.

This study examined coach-athlete attachment as a contextual enabler for thriving (hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, and subjective performance) in sports, and the mediating effect of basic psychological needs satisfaction between coach-athlete attachment and thriving in sports. A total of 131 Swedish athletes from organized teams and individual sports were recruited (78% women, 22% men, ages between 15-41, M = 18.99, SD = 4.31). An online survey was used to collect data. Results indicated that the sample perceived their coach to fulfil basic attachment functions indicating that the coach can be seen as a context specific attachment figure. Mediation analysis revealed that insecure coach-athlete attachment was negatively associated with well-being. Anxious coach-athlete attachment was negatively associated with subjective performance. Secure coach-athlete attachment was found to be positively associated with well-being. Basic psychological needs generally mediated the association between attachment styles and thriving. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of further examination of coach-athlete attachment and the coaches’ role in supporting athletes’ basic psychological needs in order for them to thrive. / Denna studie undersökte anknytningsstil mellan coacher och idrottare som en kontextuell, möjliggörande aspekt i relation till ”thriving” (att frodas). Vidare undersöktes huruvida grundläggande psykologiska behov hade en medlade effekt mellan idrottarnas anknytningsstil till coachen och ”thriving”. Totalt 131 svenska idrottare från lagsporter och individuella idrotter rekryterades (78% kvinnor, 22% män i åldrarna 15–41, M = 18.99, SD = 4.31). En onlineenkät användes för att samla in data. Resultatet indikerar att urvalet upplevde att coacherna uppfyllde grundläggande anknytningsfunktion vilket indikerar att coachen kan ses som en kontextspecifik anknytningsperson. Mediationsanalyser visade att otrygg anknytning till coachen var negativt associerat till välmående. Otrygg-ambivalent anknytning till coachen associerade negativt till upplevd prestation. Trygg anknytning till coachen var positivt associerat till välmående. Grundläggande psykologiska behov medlade generellt associationerna mellan anknytningsstilar till coachen och ”thriving”. Sammantaget belyser resultaten vikten av vidare undersökning av anknytning mellan coach och idrottare och coachernas roll i att hjälpa idrottare att både må bra och prestera.

<div> <p>According to self-determination theory (SDT), the extent to which students’ motivation is self-determined is critical for their academic performance. When self-determined, students learn because of personal interest or identification, out of a sense of volition, as opposed to pressure or indifference. SDT also proposes that self-determined academic motivation is facilitated when the learning environment supports the basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence. This model of social support à needs satisfaction à motivation à learning outcomes is termed the general self-determination theory model (hereafter the General Model), and numerous studies have provided support for it. </p> <p>However, the current evidence regarding the General Model is limited, in that no study to date has examined it in its full using within-individual methods. Between-individual analytical methods answer the question of whether a person with higher response on variable A is also more likely to report higher levels of B, whereas within-individual analytical methods answer the question of whether the same person is more likely to experience variable B when reporting experiences of A. Despite the popularity of between-individual methods in educational psychology, they may not be able to reveal the within-person relationships between variables, which are critical for understanding inner psychological processes and mechanisms. </p> <p>Therefore, the current study aims to apply a within-individual analytical approach to the General Model, using a large dataset collected at Purdue over several years. Specifically, in the current dataset, not only may a student provide multiple responses, but also the same classroom contain various students’ responses. Therefore, a cross-classified path model is used, such that the General Model is analyzed under the framework of “responses cross-classified under students and classrooms”. This model enables me to explain the variance-covariance matrix of the variables using the General Model on three levels: the situational (within-student and within-classroom) level, the student level, and the classroom level.</p> <p>Results generally supported the predictions of the General Model on the within-individual, within-classroom level. That is, for the same student, in the same classroom, when she or he experiences higher levels of autonomy support, they would also be more likely to have their psychological needs satisfied, and to study for self-determined reasons, which is then associated with higher perceived learning performance. Unexpected findings include the dominant effect of competence, the direct effects of learning climate and competence, and the lack of relationship between grades and other variables. The General Model is also largely replicated on the student- and classroom-levels.</p> <p>In addition, supplemental analyses showed that (1) although the general trend of motivation and perceived learning climate across one’s college life is null, the trend is moderated by major, such that students in business-related majors decrease in self-determined motivation and perceptions of autonomy support, whereas students in social sciences increase in self-determined motivation and perceptions of autonomy support; (2) there is limited and inconsistent support for a buffer effect, such that the higher autonomy and competence needs satisfaction students generally get, the lower their needs satisfaction in a specific classroom depends on the learning climate. Overall, the current research provides a comprehensive and multilevel understanding of the role of self-determination in the classroom.</p></div>

Background: Participation in physical activities (PA) is vital for the well-being of children and young adults with disabilities, yet barriers hinder their engagement. With the United Nations reporting 150 million children with disabilities, understanding the self-determination theory (SDT) role in promoting PA participation is essential for improving their health and well-being. It aimed to explore how intervention based on SDT facilitates the possible determinants for PA participation in children and young adults with disabilities (CAYAWD). Methods: A systematic review approach was employed. Databases like PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched for studies published between 2006 and 2022. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and the quality of the selected studies was assessed using relevant checklists from SBU, 2018. Data synthesis included intervention, description, participant characteristics, and quality evaluation. Results: This review analyzes seven studies on interventions for physical activity in CAYAWD based on SDT. Participants totalled 341 (mean age 12.6 years) with various conditions. Studies used motivational climates or basic psychological needs (BPN) in designing the interventions to enhance autonomous (intrinsic) motivation and improve needs satisfaction to increase PA. Significant effects included improved PA, need satisfaction and autonomous motivation. The measurement instruments had acceptable validity and internal consistency. Qualities of the included studies were moderate to high. The overall strength of the evidence was moderate.  Conclusion: It emphasized that intrinsic motivation and need-satisfaction act as possible determinants for participation in PA among CAYAWD. It provides valuable insights into the importance of motivational climates in PA settings. The limited number of studies urges the need for interventional studies based on SDT among CAYAWD.

Research pertaining to personality traits has largely focused on broad dimensions that define personality configurations, rather than on specific actions and behaviours that people engage in every day. While trait theorists hold the belief that individuals' personality traits predict their behaviours, there is no thorough conceptualization of behavioural manifestations of personality traits in the existing literature. The first goal of the present dissertation was therefore to conceptualize a model of behavioural manifestations of the Five Factor Model (FFM) traits. To achieve this goal, in the first article, a taxonomy of behavioural expressions of FFM traits was operationalized through the development of an instrument: the Behavioural Expressions of Traits Inventory (BETI). Results from Study 1 (N = 454) and Study 2 (N = 297) validated the proposed taxonomy by means of both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The final version of the BETI comprised 30 items (6 items/subscale) that presented a clean factor structure. Concurrent validity results revealed that the taxonomy of behavioural expressions could be distinguished from FFM traits. The BETI also displayed good construct validity, satisfactory internal consistency values of all subscales, and no issues with social desirability. The second goal of this dissertation was to use this conceptualization of behavioural expressions of traits advantageously to examine an important fundamental topic: the processes at play in the associations between FFM personality traits and motivation through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Results from emerging studies consistently revealed positive associations between beneficial FFM traits (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness) and autonomous motivation. Conversely, negative associations were obtained for neuroticism, a detrimental trait. The second article of this dissertation aimed to further our understanding of the associations between FFM traits and autonomous motivation by examining two potential mediators of this relationship: behavioural expressions of FFM traits and basic psychological need (BPN) satisfaction, a well-known antecedent of autonomous motivation. Two motivation domains central to the lives of undergraduate students were examined: academics and friendship. In Study 3 (N=635), undergraduate students completed online questionnaires. Structural equation modelling revealed a series of direct and indirect effects, as evaluated by Sobel's test of indirect effects: (1) FFM personality traits were positively associated with their corresponding behavioural expressions; (2) behavioural expressions of beneficial personality traits (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness) were positively associated with BPN satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), while neuroticism was negatively associated with BPN satisfaction; (3) BPN satisfaction was positively associated with (a) autonomous academic motivation and (b) autonomous friendship motivation; (4) behavioural expressions of personality traits mediated the relationships between their corresponding trait and BPN satisfaction; (5) BPN satisfaction mediated the relationships between behavioural expressions of personality traits and (a) autonomous academic, and (b) friendship motivation and (6) behavioural expressions of personality traits and BPN satisfaction acted as sequential mediators of the associations between personality traits and (a) autonomous academic, and (b) friendship motivation. The sequential action of behavioural expressions of traits and BPN satisfaction as processes that explain the relationship between FFM personality dimensions and autonomous motivation is a novel idea that was put to a successful empirical test herein. Taken together, this research contributes to further our understanding of the intricacies involved in the joint study of the FFM model of personality traits and motivation as conceived by SDT.

Spending your time „nurturing what is right‟ enables people to grow and negotiate the problems of life which is more than only fixing what is wrong. The World Health Organisation also defined well-being as more than not ill-being. Flourishing is an optimal state of well-being. The question is, „what is it that flourishers do different from non-flourishers?‟ Pharmacy students prepare themselves for a profession which is being bombarded with change; they are the pharmacists of tomorrow. Among them some students flourish and the others do not. This study aimed to look at possible pathways to flourishing that flourishers utilise. In this way the study addressed several gaps in the knowledge regarding flourishing: 1) The prevalence of flourishing among pharmacy students, 2) The role of demands and resources in flourishing of students, 3) The role of antecedent factors of basic psychological need satisfaction on the basic psychological need satisfaction of students and therefore in their flourishing, and 4) The use of positive affect regulation (an internal strategy) as a pathway to flourishing. A cross-sectional design was utilised. The study population was all the enrolled pharmacy students at the North West University during 2014. A convenience sample of 779 students participated. The measuring battery consisted of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF; Keyes, 2009), the Emotional Regulation Profile-Revised (ERP-R; Nelis, Quoidbach, Hansenne, & Mikolajczak, 2011), the Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs (BMPN; Sheldon & Hilpert, 2012), statements about the antecedents of basic psychological need satisfaction and statements about demands and resources, developed for the purpose of this study, and a demographic questionnaire. Structural equation modelling, invariance testing and latent class analysis were some of the statistical techniques used to analyse the cross-sectional data. Manuscript one addressed the prevalence of flourishing among pharmacy students as well as possible differences between the year groups. The manuscript also investigated the role of workload as a study demand and the lecturer as a study resource and the possible interaction between them in the flourishing of students. Year group as a possible moderator in the respective relationships between demands, resources, the interaction between them on the one hand and flourishing on the other, were also assessed. 40% of the group flourished whilst 57% was moderately healthy and 3% languished. The different year groups negotiated the demands and resources in their study environment differently in their path to flourishing. The possible pathways to flourishing in this context were identified as the use of lecturer support (a resource), especially when the workload (a demand) is high and the successful negotiation of workload over their four years of study. Manuscript two dealt with the impact of antecedent factors of basic psychological need satisfaction of pharmacy students on their basic psychological need satisfaction and therefore ultimately the influence of these contextual factors on their flourishing. The researcher wanted to determine whether there is a difference in the role(s) that family, peers, lecturers and workload play in the satisfaction of the students‟ basic psychological needs (relatedness, competence and autonomy). Year group as a moderator in these respective relationships was also investigated. Family and peers played the most important role in need satisfaction of students. However, lecturers can actively engage in supporting the need satisfaction of students, which would increase their levels of autonomous motivation and thereby their levels of flourishing. In manuscript three the use of internal strategies as pathways to flourishing were explored. Positive emotion regulation strategies have a positive relationship with well-being. However, a person can dampen or savour his or her positive emotions. The students were clustered into distinctive groups by means of a latent class analysis. Three distinctive groups were posterior identified based on the characteristics of group members, namely flourishers, languishers and moderately healthy students. Regression analyses of the three groups revealed that flourishers are the only group that most likely will utilise savouring positive emotion regulation strategies and refrain from utilising dampening positive emotion regulation strategies. Pathways to flourishing that flourishing pharmacy students utilise are therefore the use of savouring positive emotion regulation strategies and the non-use of dampening positive emotion regulation strategies.