Links between basic psychological need satisfaction and school adjustment: a person-oriented approach

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to identify the individual profiles of basic psychological needs satisfaction at school and to establish its relation to a cademic, personal and social adjustment. The sample of 306 13 - 18 - year - old students from four Lithuanian schools was surveyed. Two groups - average and low need satisfaction - were identified using the latent profile analysis. Average need satisfaction stud ents showed better school adjustment (academic, personal and social) in comparison with low need satisfaction students. The findings confirmed the importance of all three basic psychological need satisfactions for school adjustment demonstrated in previous variable - oriented studies. Future research should focus on bi - directional links between basic psychological need satisfaction and school adjustment.