Psychological needs, motivation, and well-being: A test of self-determination theory across multiple domains

The present investigation examined the associations between psychological need satisfaction, autonomous motivation, and subjective well-being simultaneously across multiple domains. Two hundred and three adults completed questionnaires about important life domains in which they were involved, resulting in ratings of over 800 domains. Results show that need satisfaction is strongly related to both autonomous motivation and well-being in multiple domains. Additionally, we demonstrate that motivation acts as a partial mediator of the path between need satisfaction and well-being. By using an idiographic approach, this study looks at the differences and similarities between the many important life domains in which individuals are involved. The current paper also supports the universality of SDT processes by assessing need satisfaction, motivation and well-being simultaneously in multiple life domains.