The Prediction of Student's Subjective Vitality by Goal Orientations and Basic Psychological Needs

The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between achievement goal orientations, satisfying basic psychological needs, and subjective vitality in students. 298 students (142 boys and 156 girls) were selected by multi stage cluster sampling method from high school in Shiraz city. Subjects filled out the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale, general version, (Gagné),the Achievement Goal Questionnaire (Elliot & - McGregor) and the State Subjective Vitality Scale (Ryan & Frederick). Finding showed positive relationship between basic psychological needs and vitality. Also, approach goal orientations showed positive correlation and avoidance goal orientations showed negative correlation with vitality. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the need of autonomy, competence, relatedness, performance-approach and master-avoidance goals, predict students’ vitality, respectively. Results indicated that in terms of the students’ subjective vitality the role of satisfying basic psychological needs is more important than the goal orientations.