| Abstract [eng] |
Kalesinskas, L. (2019). Basic Psychological Need Frustration and Disordered Eating Behaviour (Master‘s thesis). Vilnius: Vilnius University, p. 61. In the Self-determination Theory literature, it has been increasingly acknowledged that the frustration of the basic psychological needs rather than the mere lack of satisfaction of them is particularly important in the etiology of maladaptive behaviour and psychopathology. However, the relationship between disordered eating and the frustration of the basic psychological needs has not been thoroughly examined yet. Therefore, this study was aimed at gathering additional empirical evidence that will contribute to better understanding of how the frustration of the need for autonomy, competence and relatedness is related to disordered eating of both the clinical and subclinical level. Furthermore, this study also aimed to investigate the role of the frustration of the need for autonomy in the relationships between the frustration of need for competence as well as relatedness and disordered eating. Two samples were formed for the purpose of this study. The clinical sample consisted of 37 female patients, aged 18 to 53 years (M=24.11, SD=8.60), with approved diagnosis of eating disorder. The non-clinical sample consisted of 137 female participants, also aged 18 to 53 years (M=24.11, SD=8.82). Participants from both samples completed questionnaires assessing the level of frustration of the basic psychological needs as well as the degree of disordered eating. The results of the study in general indicate that the frustration of the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness is positively related to disordered eating. In addition, the results of the study indicate that the frustration of the need for autonomy moderates the relationships between the frustration of the need for competence as well as relatedness and disordered eating. Keywords: Self-determination theory, psychological needs, need frustration, disordered eating, eating disorders, eating pathology. |
