Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Previous article
Original Article

Validation and Revision of a German Version of the Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs Scale

Published Online:February 29, 2016https://doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001/a000188

Abstract

Abstract. In this study we tested the psychometric properties of a German version of the Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs scale (BMNP; Sheldon & Hilpert, 2012), a questionnaire to assess the degree of fulfillment of the three basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In Study 1, 251 participants completed this questionnaire, as well as measures of life satisfaction, self-esteem, depression, loneliness, and personality traits via online assessment. Results indicate that a six-dimensional structure fit the data adequately well. Furthermore, all three needs independently predicted life satisfaction and depression over and above personality traits. Self-esteem was only predicted by relatedness satisfaction and competence dissatisfaction, and loneliness was only predicted by relatedness. In Study 2, we revised the BMPN by replacing one item and largely replicated the results obtained in Study 1. Study 3 showed that the subscales of the BMPN are only moderately stable over 1 week supporting the assumption of the BMPN being a state measure. Together, these results suggest that the revised German version of the BMPN is a reliable and valid measure to assess satisfaction and dissatisfaction of the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

References

  • Deci, E. L. & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York, NY: Plenum. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Deci, E. L. & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “What” and “Why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11, 227–268. doi: 10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • DeWall, C. N., Twenge, J. M., Koole, S. L., Baumeister, R. F., Marquez, A. & Reid, M. W. (2011). Automatic emotion regulation after social exclusion: Tuning to positivity. Emotion, 11, 623–636. doi: 10.1037/a0023534 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J. & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Döring, N. & Bortz, J. (1993). Psychometrische Einsamkeitsforschung. Deutsche Neukonstruktion der UCLA Loneliness Scale [Psychometric Loneliness Research: German Newconstruction of the ULCA Loneliness Scale]. Diagnostica, 39, 224–239. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Eid, M., Nussbeck, F. W., Geiser, C., Cole, D. A., Gollwitzer, M. & Lischetzke, T. (2008). Structural equation modeling of multitrait-multimethod data: Different models for different types of methods. Psychological Methods, 13, 230–253. doi: 10.1037/a0013219 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Ferring, D. & Filipp, S.-H. (1996). Messung des Selbstwertgefühls: Befunde zu Reliabilität, Validität und Stabilität der Rosenberg-Skala [Measurement of self-esteem: Findings on reliability, validity, and stability of the Rosenberg Scale]. Diagnostica, 42, 284–292. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Fleming, J. S. & Courtney, B. E. (1984). The dimensionality of self-esteem: II. Hierarchical facet model for revised measurement scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 404–421. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.46.2.404 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Gagné, M. (2003). The role of autonomy support and Autonomy orientation in prosocial behavior engagement. Motivation and Emotion, 27, 199–223. doi: 10.1023/A:1025007614869 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Geiser, C., Eid, M. & Nussbeck, F. W. (2008). On the meaning of the latent variables in the CT-C(M-1) model: A comment on Maydeu-Olivares and Coffman (2006). Psychological Methods, 13, 49–57. doi: 10.1037/1082-989X.13.1.49 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Glaesmer, H., Grande, G., Braehler, E. & Roth, M. (2011). The German version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 27, 127–132. doi: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000058 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T. & Solomon, S. (1986). The causes and consequences of a need for self-esteem: A terror management theory. In R. F. BaumeisterEd., Public self and private self (pp. 189–212). New York, NY: Springer. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Hautzinger, M. (1988). Die CES-D Skala: Ein Depressionsmesssinstrument für Untersuchungen in der Allgemeinbevölkerung [The CES-D sclae. A measurement for depression in the general population]. Diagnostica, 34, 167–173. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Hays, R. D. & DiMatteo, M. R. (1987). A short-form measure of loneliness. Journal of Personality Assessment, 51, 69–81. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa5101_6 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Johnston, M. M. & Finney, S. J. (2010). Measuring basic needs satisfaction: Evaluating previous research and conducting new psychometric evaluations of the Basic Needs Satisfaction in General Scale. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 35, 280–296. doi: 10.1016/j.cedpsych.2010.04.003 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Leary, M., Tambor, E., Terdal, S. & Downs, D. (1999). Self-Esteem as as Interpersonal Monitor: The Sociometer Hypothesis. In R. F. BaumeisterEd., Key readings in social psychology. The self in social psychology (pp. 87–104). Philadelphia, PA: Psychology Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Meredith, W. (1993). Measurement invariance, factor analysis and factorial invariance. Psychometrika, 58, 525–543. doi: 10.1007/BF02294825 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Muthén, L. K. & Muthén, B. O. (2015). Mplus User’s Guide (7th ed). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Neubauer, A. B. & Voss, A. (in press). The structure of need fulfillment: Separating need satisfaction and dissatisfaction on between- and within-person level. European Journal of Psychological Assessment. Manuscript submitted for publication. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • R Core Team. (2015). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Retrieved from https://www.R-project.org/. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401. doi: 10.1177/014662167700100306 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rammstedt, B. & John, O. P. (2005). Kurzversion des Big Five Inventory (BFI-K). Diagnostica, 51, 195–206. doi: 10.1026/0012-1924.51.4.195 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Reis, H. T., Sheldon, K. M., Gable, S. L., Roscoe, J. & Ryan, R. M. (2000). Daily well-being: The role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26, 419–435. doi: 10.1177/0146167200266002 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rhemtulla, M., Brosseau-Liard, P. É. & Savalei, V. (2012). When can categorical variables be treated as continuous? A comparison of robust continuous and categorical SEM estimation methods under suboptimal conditions. Psychological Methods, 17, 354–373. doi: 10.1037/a0029315 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Russell, D., Peplau, L. A. & Cutrona, C. E. (1980). The revised UCLA Loneliness Scale: Concurrent and discriminant validity evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 472–480. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Ryan, R. M. & Brown, K. W. (2003). Why we don’t need self-esteem: On fundamental needs, contingent love, and mindfulness. Psychological Inquiry, 14, 71–76. doi: 10.2307/1449046 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Ryan, R. M. & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 141–166. doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Schütz, A. & Sellin, I. (2006). Multidimensionale Selbstwertskala [Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale]. Göttingen, Germany: Hogrefe. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Sheldon, K. M., Ryan, R. & Reis, H. T. (1996). What makes for a good day? Competence and autonomy in the day and in the person. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22, 1270–1279. doi: 10.1177/01461672962212007 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sheldon, K. M. (2011). Integrating behavioral-motive and experiential-requirement perspectives on psychological needs: A two process model. Psychological Review, 118, 552–569. doi: 10.1037/a0024758 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sheldon, K. M., Abad, N. & Hinsch, C. (2011). A two-process view of Facebook use and relatedness need-satisfaction: Disconnection drives use, and connection rewards it. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100, 766–775. doi: 10.1037/a0022407 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sheldon, K. M. & Filak, V. (2008). Manipulating autonomy, competence, and relatedness support in a game-learning context: New evidence that all three needs matter. British Journal of Social Psychology, 47, 267–283. doi: 10.1348/014466607X238797 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sheldon, K. M. & Gunz, A. (2009). Psychological needs as basic motives, not just experiential requirements. Journal of Personality, 77, 1467–1492. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00589.x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sheldon, K. M. & Hilpert, J. C. (2012). The balanced measure of psychological needs (BMPN) scale: An alternative domain general measure of need satisfaction. Motivation and Emotion, 36, 439–451. doi: 10.1007/s11031-012-9279-4 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Steyer, R., Schmitt, M. & Eid, M. (1999). Latent state-trait theory and research in personality and individual differences. European Journal of Personality, 13, 389–408. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Trzesniewski, K. H., Donnellan, M. B. & Robins, R. W. (2003). Stability of self-esteem across the life span. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 205–220. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.84.1.205 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Vansteenkiste, M., Lens, W., Soenens, B. & Luyckx, K. (2006). Autonomy and relatedness among Chinese sojourners and applicants: Conflictual or independent predictors of well-being and adjustment? Motivation and Emotion, 30, 273–282. doi: 10.1007/s11031-006-9041-x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Wagner, G. G., Frick, J. R. & Schupp, J. (2007). The German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) – Scope, evolution and enhancements. Schmollers Jahrbuch, 127, 139–169. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Wainer, H. (2000). The centercept: An estimable and meaningful regression parameter. Psychological Science, 11, 434–436. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Wei, M., Shaffer, P. A., Young, S. K. & Zakalik, R. A. (2005). Adult attachment, shame, depression, and loneliness: The mediation role of basic psychological needs Satisfaction. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 591–601. doi: 10.1037/0022-0167.52.4.591 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Williams, K. D. (2001). Ostracism: The power of silence. Emotions and social behavior. New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Wu, C.-H. & Yao, G. (2008). Psychometric analysis of the short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8) in Taiwanese undergraduate students. Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 1762–1771. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2008.02.003 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Yuan, K.-H. & Bentler, P. M. (2000). Three likelihood-based methods for mean and covariance structure analysis with nonnormal missing data. Sociological Methodology, 30, 165–200. doi: 10.1111/0081-1750.00078 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar