The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale. Adaptation and associations with well-being and mental health disorders in a Polish sample

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to validate a Polish adaptation of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNS&FS) and determine the significance of need satisfaction and frustration for mental health. The scale measures satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, relatedness. The measurement of these needs has an important role in the explanation of psychological well-being and risk of disorders. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The study involved 792 participants (50% woman) and 60 (67% men) alcohol addicted patients. We obtained a Polish translation equivalent to the original tool. Three theoretical models were tested by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA, N = 736). Reliability was tested using test-retest reliability, item-total correlation, and internal consistency. Criterion validity was evaluated based on the correlation with happiness resources, symptoms of mental health disorders, psychache, and risk of alcoholism. RESULTS: CFA confirmed the validity of measurement for two independent dimensions: satisfaction and frustration of each need. The BPNS&FS is characterized by good reliability parameters. Criterion validity was confirmed by significantly positive relations of needs satisfaction with happiness resources, and negative relations with symptoms of mental health disorders, psychache, and the risk of alcoholism. Need frustration has opposite relations with the above variables. The validity was also supported by significantly higher need frustration among alcoholics, compared to a normative sample. Women differed significantly from men in lower autonomy and competence satisfaction and higher relatedness satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The Polish version of the BPNS&FS is a valuable and reliable measurement tool. It has been confirmed that both the satisfaction and frustration of needs have important consequences for well-being and mental health.