What is it about?

This meta-analysis includes 881 studies and shows that when people have their autonomy, competence, and relatedness supported by others, they are more likely to be optimally motivated, experience well-being, and generally exhibit better performance.

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Why is it important?

Across hundreds of studies involving different domains of life (work, schools, PE, sports, parenting, and healthcare) the scientific literature provides support for strategies that help to nurture a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The literature also suggests that all three interpersonal support mechanisms are important and that multiple sources of interpersonal support can have additive benefit.

Perspectives

This article was a four year journey from conceptualization through to publication. It was a pleasure to work with this great team of motivation researchers to produce a study that ultimately confirmed the positive effects of need-supportive interpersonal behaviors across a range of important life domains: work, schools, PE, sports, parenting, and in healthcare.

Gavin Slemp
University of Melbourne

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Interpersonal supports for basic psychological needs and their relations with motivation, well-being, and performance: A meta-analysis., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, April 2024, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/pspi0000459.
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Contributors

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