The mediating role of intrinsic motivation on the relationship between basic psychological needs and life satisfaction

The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of intrinsic motivation on the relationship between students’ basic psychological needs and life satisfaction. This was done in the framework of causal model and was based on self-determination theory. For this reason 292 graduate students of Tehran University (145 boys، 147 girls) completed an Overall Life Satisfaction (OLS)، and subscales of Intrinsic Motivation (IM) and Basic Psychological Needs (BPN) of motivational orientations for learning EFL. Results of path analysis revealed that need for autonomy، need for competence and need for relatedness had direct and positive effects on intrinsic motivation. Need for autonomy and need for competence had indirect and positive effect via intrinsic motivation on life satisfaction but the indirect effect of need for relatedness on life satisfaction was not significant. Overall basic psychological needs explained 29% of the variance for intrinsic motivation and basic psychological needs and intrinsic motivation explained 22% of the variance for life satisfaction. Based on these findings، intrinsic motivation seems to have a mediating role in the relationship between basic psychological needs and life satisfaction. Hence it may be argued that by taking into account variables such as basic psychological needs and by attempting to increase intrinsic motivation، life satisfaction may be improved.