Psychological well-being in adolescents: The role of social support and basic need satisfaction

Knowledge of the factors that influence life satisfaction and well-being in adolescence is scarce. This study examines whether life satisfaction (LS), peer social support and satisfaction of three basic needs that posits self-determination (competence, autonomy and relatedness) account for incremental variation in psychological well-being (PW). The sample is 544 schooled adolescents (55 % female) aged 13 to 18 years (M=15.11, DE=1.05). Data were collected through selfadministered questionnaires in educational institutions. Two stepwise hierarchical regressions were performed, one with LS and the other with PW as dependent variables. Sex and age were included as control variables. Peer social support, the two types of well-being and then satisfaction of basic psychological needs were incorporated. The results show that these variables increased adolescent PW once LS and peer social support were included. Age and PW predicted LS. Two mediation models were used to assess the effect of basic psychological needs (competence, autonomy, and relatedness) on PW and LS. Mediation analyses indicated that all three psychological needs increase the effect of LS on adolescent PW. The results of this study suggest that feeling competent, more autonomous, and more connected to others are important need that may help explain the effect of LS on PW in the adolescent population.