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The Mediational Role of Psychological Basic Needs in the Relation Between Conception of God and Psychological Outcomes

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Abstract

Relatively few studies have examined the relationship between conception of God and psychological outcomes in a self-determination theory (SDT) framework. The aim of this study was to examine the role of basic psychological needs as a mediator of the association between conception of God and psychological outcomes. In a sample of 210 religious young adults, we found that the concept of a controlling God was positively associated with feelings of need frustration and depression, whilst the concept of an autonomy-supporting God was positively associated with feelings of need satisfaction and vitality. In turn, need satisfaction promoted feelings of vitality, whereas need frustration led to feelings of depression. The satisfaction of needs was a full mediator of the relationship between autonomy-supporting God and vitality, whilst the frustration of needs was a full mediator of the relationship between controlling God and depression. These findings are discussed in terms of SDT. We also discuss how future research may further increase our understanding of the dynamics involved in concepts of God and psychological outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Psychology, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Messina, Via Bivona, 98122, Messina, Italy

    Sebastiano Costa, Maria C. Gugliandolo, Nadia Barberis & Rosalba Larcan

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  1. Sebastiano Costa
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  2. Maria C. Gugliandolo
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  3. Nadia Barberis
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  4. Rosalba Larcan
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Correspondence to Sebastiano Costa.

Additional information

Sebastiano Costa assisted with generation of the initial draft of the manuscript, data analyses, and manuscript editing, Maria C. Gugliandolo assisted with manuscript preparation, manuscript editing, study concept, Nadia Barberis assisted with data analysis, and manuscript editing, Rosalba Larcan assisted with data interpretation, interpretation of data, and study supervision.

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Costa, S., Gugliandolo, M.C., Barberis, N. et al. The Mediational Role of Psychological Basic Needs in the Relation Between Conception of God and Psychological Outcomes. J Relig Health 55, 1–15 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9956-6

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