Personality and Basic Psychological Needs as Predictors of Life Satisfaction: Results of the On-line Study

Bratko, Denis and Sabol, Jasminka. (2006). Personality and Basic Psychological Needs as Predictors of Life Satisfaction: Results of the On-line Study . Društvena istraživanja : časopis za opća društvena pitanja, 15(4-5). pp. 693-711. ISSN 1330-0288

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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.

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