The Effect of basic psychological needs on university students’ self-confidence

Abstract

This study aims to find out whether the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, for competence and for relatedness contributes to self-confidence. 232 participants (136 males, 58.6%, and 96 females, 41.4%) participated in the study. The participants were chosen from the students of a state university in Turkey. The Self-confidence Scale and the Basic Psychological Need Scale were used for data collection. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a negative significant correlation between self-confidence, on the one hand, and the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, on the other hand (p<0.00); the need for autonomy and that for competence; the need for autonomy and that for relatedness (p<0.00); the need for competence and that for relatedness (p<0.05). The need for autonomy and that for relatedness significantly explained almost 35% of the total variance in self-confidence (F=60.28; p<0.00). Results suggest that the satisfaction of basic psychological needs enhances self-confidence of university students.