Predicting Psychological Well-Being Based on Basic Psychological Needs: The Mediating Role of Social Networks Addiction

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between basic needs and psychological well-being with mediation of social networks addiction. Social networkks addiction is excessive dependence, strong motivation to log in or use, and spending a lot of time on social networks that harm other social activities, studies / jobs, interpersonal relationships, or mental health. Thus, in the last decade, the factors and consequences associated with problematic use of social networks have increased interest and empirical study in this area.

Methods and Materials: 

The statistical population in this study was people over 18 years old in Hamedan and Shiraz from which 396 people (170 male and 226 female) were selected by convenience sampling method. The instruments used in this study were the basic psychological needs scale (Gagné, 2033), social networks addiction (Panayides and Walker, 2012) and psychological well-being (Ryyf, 1989). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis.

The highest correlation coefficient among the basic needs was related to the need for relatedness with -0.64 and then the needs of autonomy and competence were -0.62 and -0.58, respectively. The correlation coefficient between social networks addiction and psychological well-being was -0.48. Also, the correlation coefficient of basic needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness with psychological well-being were 0.69, 0.60 and 0.66, respectively.

Frustration of basic needs can appear in the form of corrective methods and in the form of excessive use of social networks and pave the way for addictive use of these networks. Frustration of basic needs is also directly and indirectly associated with reduced psychological well-being.