Abstract:
Proponents of Basic Needs Theory (BNT; Deci & Ryan, 2002) contend that the
mechanism underpinning psychological well-being is the fulfillment of basic
psychological needs with their fulfillment addressed in an independent (Deci & Ryan,
2002) or balanced manner (Sheldon & Niemiec, 2006). The purpose of this investigation
was to explore the associations between the fulfillment of basic psychological needs and
two forms of psychological well-being, namely hedonic and eudaimonic indices.
Employing purposive sampling and a cross-sectional design, collegiate volleyball players
(N = 219; nfemales = 127) completed a battery of self-report instruments assessing
psychological need satisfaction and well-being toward the mid-to-end portion oftheir
competitive season. Aligned with BNT (Deci & Ryan, 2002) tenets and study hypotheses,
results demonstrated that basic psychological need fulfillment was associated with
psychological well-being in the context of volleyball. Albeit minimal, balanced need
fulfillment was generally predictive of well-being indices beyond independent need
contributions with suppressor effects noted. In sum, the results of the present
investigation generally coincide with previous sport based BNT (e.g., Reinboth & Duda,
2006) and balanced need satisfaction (e.g., Sheldon & Niemiec, 2006) literature.
Additional BNT support has been garnished and suggests that the fulfillment of the basic
psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness may be targeted as the
mechanisms to facilitate athletes' psychological well-being. Along with Ryan and Deci's
(2007) recommendations, the outcomes of this investigation highlight the need for further
empirical study ofBNT's tenets in the realm of sport including assessments of balanced
need satisfaction as well as varied hedonic and eudaimonic indices.
