The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale: Some Satisfying and Frustrating Findings

As a tool for operationalizing basic psychological needs theory (an aspect of self-determination theory), the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS) has become the primary self-report measure. Here, with a sample of 807 Canadian military members, we confirm the BPNSFS six content factor structure and, in supporting that structure, demonstrate the differential association of satisfaction and frustration scales with psychological functioning variables that are external to the factor analysis. Although the specific content interpretation of the BPNSFS can be debated, we support the continued use of the BPNSFS as a psychometrically sound instrument.