Original scientific paper
Personality and Basic Psychological Needs as Predictors of Life Satisfaction: Results of the On-line Study
Denis Bratko
Jasminka Sabol
Abstract
The goal of this research has been to add to the
understanding of the life satisfaction concept through the
comparison of two theoretical models. Costa and McCrae's
model (Costa, McCrae, 1980; McCrae, Costa, 1991) of
influence of personality dimensions on life satisfaction
highlights the importance of extraversion and neuroticism, as
well as the importance of agreeableness and conscientiousness.
Self-determination theory, however, posits that the
fulfillment of basic psychological needs, in the sense of
accumulation of daily attainment of experiences of autonomy,
competence and relatedness, predicts life satisfaction.
The results confirmed the previous research and models of
influence on life satisfaction which we have compared:
Extraversion, neuroticism and conscientiousness are
significant predictors of life satisfaction among personality
dimensions, whereas extraversion and conscientiousness are
positive and neuroticism is a negative predictor; satisfaction
of basic psychological needs is a strong positive predictor of
life satisfaction. Comparison of the two models suggests that
the satisfaction of basic psychological needs predicts life
satisfaction over and beyond the big-five personality
dimensions. Personality traits add to the life satisfaction prediction of basic psychological needs only marginally. The
result is understandable when interpreted by the motivational
approach to personality perspectives, which assumes that
needs are the more basic and more simple constructs which
influence development of personality.
Keywords
personality; Big Five; life satisfaction; basic psychological needs
Hrčak ID:
10873
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2006.
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