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Basic Psychological Needs, Good Societal Development and Satisfaction with Life: The Mediating Role of the Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Oriana Mosca

    (Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Alessandro Milani

    (Department of Psychology of Developmental and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ferdinando Fornara

    (Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09126 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Andrea Manunza

    (Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09126 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Kuba Krys

    (Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 01-447 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Fridanna Maricchiolo

    (Department of Education Science, University of Roma Tre, 00185 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Seminal work on laypeople’s perspectives on societal development is the foundation of our renovated interest in good development and its relationship with well-being. The present study aims to analyze the relationship between individual basic psychological needs satisfaction, people’s visions of good societal development in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, and well-being in terms of Satisfaction with Life. To reach this aim, we administered an online survey to a general sample ( N = 206, F = 69.4% M = 28.6%, mean age of 33.39 years, and sd = 12.33) with different measures: (a) 3 Basic Psychological Needs (i.e., Autonomy, Relatedness, and Competence) Satisfaction Scale; (b) an ad hoc built Attitude towards the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Scale; (c) Satisfaction with Life Scale. We conducted an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on the scale about attitudes toward the SDGs, correlation analyses between the investigated variables, and a series of mediation analyses with the three basic psychological needs satisfaction as IVs, the factors emerging from the EFA as mediators (i.e., Environment, Equity, Health) and Satisfaction with Life as the DV. The results showed that only the Environment component of the SDGs Scale mediated the relation between Basic Psychological Needs and Satisfaction with Life. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of different theoretical frameworks, like the Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT), the Person-Culture fit theory, and the Affordances Theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Oriana Mosca & Alessandro Milani & Ferdinando Fornara & Andrea Manunza & Kuba Krys & Fridanna Maricchiolo, 2023. "Basic Psychological Needs, Good Societal Development and Satisfaction with Life: The Mediating Role of the Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13794-:d:1240916
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Masoud Karami & Ben Wooliscroft & Maryam Hejazinia, 2024. "Struggling and Thriving: Effectuation in Social and Economic Stress," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-16, February.

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