The Role of Basic Needs Fulfillment in Prediction of Subjective Well-Being among University Students.

AbstractThe aim of this study is to examine the role of fulfillment level of university students' basic needs in predicting the level of their subjective well being. The participants were 627 students (56% female, 44% male) attending different faculties of Pamukkale University. In this study, subjective well being was measured with Life Satisfaction Scale and Positive Negative Affect Scale. Students' perceptions about basic needs satisfaction were measured with University Students Basic Needs Scale (USBNS). Results show that, students' basic needs satisfaction is predicting subjective well being significantly for all dimensions of basic needs. Besides, freedom, fun and power needs are seen as stronger predictors of subjective well being in university students than the other basic needs.Key WordsSubjective Well Being, Basic Needs, Choice Theory, University Students.Studies about well being show that happiness is perceived as a very important life value for the people almost all over the world (Diener, Diener, Diener, 1995; Diener, Sapyta, Suh, 1998; King & Napa, 1998). Also, it can be said that university students from different countries in the world accept the happiness as a very important value in their lives (Diener et al., 1995). Happiness is conceptualized as subjective well being in the positive psychology field (Ryan & Deci, 2001), and subjective well being is consist of three different but also related components as (a) positive affect, (b) negative affect, and (c) life satisfaction (Andrews & Withey, 1976 cited in Diener, 1984). However, an important discussion has occurred about what the predictors of subjective well being are. It can be said that need theories, under the telic theories headline, take a great place among the varied discussions about the predictors of subjective well being (Diener, 1984; Wilson, 1967; Yetim, 2001). The major assumption of need theories is happiness is felt only if human needs can be fulfilled sufficiently (Wilson, 1967). Although this assumption about the needs theories projects a simple view, it is not seen so easy to explain the complex pattern of human needs. As a matter of fact, the investigation of the human needs has been the focus point of many researchers for a long time. For instance, Murray classified the human needs under twenty headlines such as achievement, autonomy, play, sexuality, etc (Burger, 2006). Maslow's needs hierarchy can be accepted as a similar attempt about the classification of human needs, and these needs are described as physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love needs, esteem needs, and need for selfactualization (Schultz & Schultz, 2002). Another classification system about human needs in self-determination theory is about autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs (Deci & Ryan, 2008). It is also seen that the major theories about human needs are reconsidered with a more eclectic way in psychological well being viewpoint that stresses positive psychological health and personal growth (Akin, 2008). For instance, Ryff(1995) classifies the psychological needs as self-acceptance, positive relations with the other people, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, personal growth. Psychological well being viewpoint mostly underlines the actualization of human potential and full functioning in the life (Deci & Ryan, 2008). However, the fundamental point that stressed in the subjective well being viewpoint is about reducing the tension which appears at the lack of fulfillment of needs, and satisfying the needs to help people feel themselves happy, like as stressed in the choice theory approach (Glasser, 2005). Choice Theory is accepted as a theoretical background for the William Glasser's new psychotherapy approach which is called Reality Therapy. Choice theory emphasizes that only we are responsible for all of behaviors we have displayed and we make internal decisions always whatever the external conditions are, and the aim of our behaviors is to fulfill our basic needs (Glasser, 1975, 2001a, 2001b, 2005). …