Predicting psychological need satisfaction and frustration from early maladaptive schemas and DSM-5 and ICD-11 personality traits

Abstract

The satisfaction of basic psychological needs is closely connected with an individual’s well-being and mental health. The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations of persistent and pervasive negative cognitions about oneself and others (early maladaptive schemas) and pathological personality traits (DSM-5 and ICD-11 personality traits) with the satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs. To this aim, self-report measures of psychological need satisfaction (Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale), early maladaptive schemas (Young Schema Questionnaire – Short Form 3), and pathological personality traits (Modified Personality Inventory for DSM-5 and ICD-11 – Brief Form Plus), were administered in a community sample (N = 322, Mage = 35.3 years, SDage = 12.5 years, 66% female). The data were analyzed using correlation analysis, linear regression analysis, and a machine-learning approach (XGBoost). The results showed strong negative relationships of early maladaptive schemas and pathological personality traits with the satisfaction and frustration of the needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, especially the disconnection/rejection and impaired autonomy/performance schema domains and the pathological personality traits of negative affectivity and detachment. Early maladaptive schemas predicted the frustration of the psychological needs for relatedness and competence above pathological personality traits. The study findings add to the understanding of current psychological need satisfaction.