Daily Well-Being: The Role of Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness

TLDR

Emotional well‑being is usually studied as a trait, but recent work shows that daily within‑person fluctuations are also important. The study tested whether daily well‑being variations are explained by satisfaction of autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs, and examined which social activities promote relatedness. Hierarchical linear models were applied to two weeks of daily activity and well‑being data, controlling for trait differences. Results confirmed that need satisfaction predicts daily well‑being, with meaningful talk and feeling understood being the strongest relatedness predictors, and revealed systematic day‑of‑the‑week variations, underscoring the importance of both trait and daily determinants.

Abstract

Emotional well-being is most typically studied in trait or trait-like terms, yet a growing literature indicates that daily (within-person) fluctuations in emotional well-being may be equally important. The present research explored the hypothesis that daily variations may be understood in terms of the degree to which three basic needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—are satisfied in daily activity. Hierarchical linear models were used to examine this hypothesis across 2 weeks of daily activity and well-being reports controlling for trait-level individual differences. Results strongly supported the hypothesis. The authors also examined the social activities that contribute to satisfaction of relatedness needs. The best predictors were meaningful talk and feeling understood and appreciated by interaction partners. Finally, the authors found systematic day-of-the-week variations in emotional well-being and need satisfaction. These results are discussed in terms of the importance of daily activities and the need to consider both trait and day-level determinants of well-being.