Predicting the brighter and darker sides of interpersonal relationships: Does psychological need thwarting matter?

Recent studies have indicated that assessments of need thwarting better predict diminished functioning and ill-being compared to low need satisfaction, which better predict optimal functioning and well-being. In this study we aimed to further explore the important theoretical distinction between psy...

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Main Authors: Costa, S., Ntoumanis, Nikos, Bartholomew, K.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer Netherlands 2014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12564
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author Costa, S.
Ntoumanis, Nikos
Bartholomew, K.
author_facet Costa, S.
Ntoumanis, Nikos
Bartholomew, K.
author_sort Costa, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Recent studies have indicated that assessments of need thwarting better predict diminished functioning and ill-being compared to low need satisfaction, which better predict optimal functioning and well-being. In this study we aimed to further explore the important theoretical distinction between psychological need thwarting and need satisfaction in the domain of interpersonal relationships. We examined whether the distinction between need satisfaction and thwarting is due to method effects resulting from positive and negative item wording, however, multi-trait multi-method analyses indicated no substantial method effects. Further, we showed that a lack of need satisfaction (i.e., need dissatisfaction) is not equivalent to experiences of need thwarting. In fact, need thwarting better predicted compromised relational functioning compared to need dissatisfaction. Need satisfaction was a stronger predictor of interpersonal competence compared to need thwarting and need dissatisfaction. The current findings underline the importance of assessing need thwarting when examining compromised functioning in interpersonal relationships.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2014
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-125642020-07-23T08:45:17Z Predicting the brighter and darker sides of interpersonal relationships: Does psychological need thwarting matter? Costa, S. Ntoumanis, Nikos Bartholomew, K. Recent studies have indicated that assessments of need thwarting better predict diminished functioning and ill-being compared to low need satisfaction, which better predict optimal functioning and well-being. In this study we aimed to further explore the important theoretical distinction between psychological need thwarting and need satisfaction in the domain of interpersonal relationships. We examined whether the distinction between need satisfaction and thwarting is due to method effects resulting from positive and negative item wording, however, multi-trait multi-method analyses indicated no substantial method effects. Further, we showed that a lack of need satisfaction (i.e., need dissatisfaction) is not equivalent to experiences of need thwarting. In fact, need thwarting better predicted compromised relational functioning compared to need dissatisfaction. Need satisfaction was a stronger predictor of interpersonal competence compared to need thwarting and need dissatisfaction. The current findings underline the importance of assessing need thwarting when examining compromised functioning in interpersonal relationships. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12564 10.1007/s11031-014-9427-0 Springer Netherlands fulltext
spellingShingle Costa, S.
Ntoumanis, Nikos
Bartholomew, K.
Predicting the brighter and darker sides of interpersonal relationships: Does psychological need thwarting matter?
title Predicting the brighter and darker sides of interpersonal relationships: Does psychological need thwarting matter?
title_full Predicting the brighter and darker sides of interpersonal relationships: Does psychological need thwarting matter?
title_fullStr Predicting the brighter and darker sides of interpersonal relationships: Does psychological need thwarting matter?
title_full_unstemmed Predicting the brighter and darker sides of interpersonal relationships: Does psychological need thwarting matter?
title_short Predicting the brighter and darker sides of interpersonal relationships: Does psychological need thwarting matter?
title_sort predicting the brighter and darker sides of interpersonal relationships: does psychological need thwarting matter?
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12564