Basic Psychological Needs as a Determinant of Life Satisfaction of University Students

The university years represent a pivotal period in an individual's life, during which students may encounter considerable challenges in their academic and personal development. Such difficulties may also impact students' overall life satisfaction. Conversely, numerous factors influence an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ahmet Türk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Muhammed Yıldız 2024-12-01
Series:Yaşam Becerileri Psikoloji Dergisi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4385539
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850032942663860224
author Ahmet Türk
author_facet Ahmet Türk
author_sort Ahmet Türk
collection DOAJ
description The university years represent a pivotal period in an individual's life, during which students may encounter considerable challenges in their academic and personal development. Such difficulties may also impact students' overall life satisfaction. Conversely, numerous factors influence an individual's life satisfaction. The basic psychological needs theory, which offers a robust framework for understanding the fundamental elements that determine an individual's life satisfaction, posits that meeting the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness significantly impacts an individual's mental health and general life satisfaction. In this context, this study was conducted to ascertain the life satisfaction levels of university students and to examine the effect of the level of satisfaction with basic psychological needs on life satisfaction. 434 university students, 245 (56.5%) female and 189 (43.5%) male, participated in the study in which the survey model was used. The average age of the students was x̄=20,75±1,47. Data were collected using personal information form, Basic Psychological Needs Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were applied. Descriptive findings show that students have moderate level of life satisfaction and their relatedness needs are met the most. In the correlation analysis, it was found that there was a significant positive relationship between life satisfaction and autonomy, competence and relatedness needs. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that autonomy, competence and relatedness needs predicted life satisfaction at a significant positive level. From the findings, it was concluded that as the level of satisfaction of students' autonomy, competence and relatedness needs increases, their life satisfaction increases. The findings of the study highlight the necessity for psychological support and social adaptation programmes for university students to prioritise the fulfilment of basic needs.
format Article
id doaj-art-c0aaa388332a4b948957d9c7b7498d4d
institution DOAJ
issn 2587-1536
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Muhammed Yıldız
record_format Article
series Yaşam Becerileri Psikoloji Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-c0aaa388332a4b948957d9c7b7498d4d2025-08-20T02:58:25ZengMuhammed YıldızYaşam Becerileri Psikoloji Dergisi2587-15362024-12-0181614115110.31461/ybpd.1589503Basic Psychological Needs as a Determinant of Life Satisfaction of University StudentsAhmet TürkThe university years represent a pivotal period in an individual's life, during which students may encounter considerable challenges in their academic and personal development. Such difficulties may also impact students' overall life satisfaction. Conversely, numerous factors influence an individual's life satisfaction. The basic psychological needs theory, which offers a robust framework for understanding the fundamental elements that determine an individual's life satisfaction, posits that meeting the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness significantly impacts an individual's mental health and general life satisfaction. In this context, this study was conducted to ascertain the life satisfaction levels of university students and to examine the effect of the level of satisfaction with basic psychological needs on life satisfaction. 434 university students, 245 (56.5%) female and 189 (43.5%) male, participated in the study in which the survey model was used. The average age of the students was x̄=20,75±1,47. Data were collected using personal information form, Basic Psychological Needs Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were applied. Descriptive findings show that students have moderate level of life satisfaction and their relatedness needs are met the most. In the correlation analysis, it was found that there was a significant positive relationship between life satisfaction and autonomy, competence and relatedness needs. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that autonomy, competence and relatedness needs predicted life satisfaction at a significant positive level. From the findings, it was concluded that as the level of satisfaction of students' autonomy, competence and relatedness needs increases, their life satisfaction increases. The findings of the study highlight the necessity for psychological support and social adaptation programmes for university students to prioritise the fulfilment of basic needs.https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4385539autonomycompetencerelatednesslife satisfactionstudent
spellingShingle Ahmet Türk
Basic Psychological Needs as a Determinant of Life Satisfaction of University Students
Yaşam Becerileri Psikoloji Dergisi
autonomy
competence
relatedness
life satisfaction
student
title Basic Psychological Needs as a Determinant of Life Satisfaction of University Students
title_full Basic Psychological Needs as a Determinant of Life Satisfaction of University Students
title_fullStr Basic Psychological Needs as a Determinant of Life Satisfaction of University Students
title_full_unstemmed Basic Psychological Needs as a Determinant of Life Satisfaction of University Students
title_short Basic Psychological Needs as a Determinant of Life Satisfaction of University Students
title_sort basic psychological needs as a determinant of life satisfaction of university students
topic autonomy
competence
relatedness
life satisfaction
student
url https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4385539
work_keys_str_mv AT ahmetturk basicpsychologicalneedsasadeterminantoflifesatisfactionofuniversitystudents