Self-authenticity, optimism, and neuroticism in relation to basic psychological needs

Abstract

This paper aimed at investigating the mediating role of one personality construct (i.e., dispositional optimism) on the relationship between self-authenticity and basic psychological needs (BPN) satisfaction. This study also aims to investigate the predictive role of three personality constructs (self-authenticity, optimism, and neuroticism) on basic psychological needs satisfaction. The participants were 566 Romanian adults from the general population (M = 43.66 years old, SD = 10.46), who were asked to fill in multiple questionnaires. Findings reveal that optimism mediates the relationship between self-authenticity and the satisfaction of the need for autonomy (β=.30, R2=.39, p<0.001) and also mediates the relationship between self-authenticity and the satisfaction of the need for competence (β=.51, R2=.36, p<0.001), but does not mediate the relationship between self-authenticity and the need for relatedness. Another result of this study is that the three personality factors (self-authenticity, optimism, and neuroticism) predict altogether the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (β=-.11, R2=.52, p<0.05). These results extend the current knowledge about personality determinants involved in autonomy, competence and relatedness basic needs from self-determination theory. In the end, the authors discuss the implications of the findings, the limits of the present study and future research suggestions.