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A New Look on the Representation and Criterion Validity of Need Fulfillment: Application of the Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Framework

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Abstract

The present study re-investigated whether need satisfaction and frustration are better represented as two opposite ends of the same continuum or two distinct constructs through the application of the bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (bifactor-ESEM) framework. Also, the criterion-related validity of the final representation was tested in relation to indicators of wellbeing. Using a sample of 774 participants (501 females, Mage = 27.86, SDage = 9.52), several alternative models were contrasted. The results supported the multidimensional bifactor-ESEM representation including one global factor of need fulfillment and the six specific factors being the combination of satisfaction and frustration with autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Most items tapped into meaningful specificity once the global factor was accounted for. Finally, the global factor was substantially and positively related to positive affect and negatively to negative affect. Competence satisfaction further predicted positive affect, while competence and relatedness frustration predicted negative affect.

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Notes

  1. In the case of omega indices for the bifactor-ESEM model, it has to be noted that the reliability of the S-factors in this particular model is generally lower than in the case of first-order model. Also, the lower levels of reliability are less problematic due to the use of fully latent variables which are controlled for measurement errors.

  2. The fit of the PANAS model was adequate (χ2 = 141.216, df = 32, p < .001; CFI = .930; TLI = .902; RMSEA = .066 [90% CI .055–.078]) and included two correlated uniquenesses between items 3–5 and 2–8. The two factors also showed adequate model-based reliabilities (ωpositive = .740; ωnegative = .696).

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Funding

The first author was supported by the ÚNKP-17-3 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities. The first three authors were supported by the Hungarian Research Fund (NKFI FK 124225), and the third author was also supported by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Lendület Project LP2012-36).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

    István Tóth-Király & Beáta Bőthe

  2. Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella utca 46, Budapest, 1064, Hungary

    István Tóth-Király, Beáta Bőthe, Gábor Orosz & Adrien Rigó

  3. Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

    Gábor Orosz

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  1. István Tóth-Király
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Correspondence to István Tóth-Király.

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Tóth-Király, I., Bőthe, B., Orosz, G. et al. A New Look on the Representation and Criterion Validity of Need Fulfillment: Application of the Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Framework. J Happiness Stud 20, 1609–1626 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0015-y

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