Features of Psychological Well-being and Basic needs satisfaction depending on the degree of Loneliness experience

Levchuk Il'ya Aleksandrovich independent researcher 123290, Russia, Moscow region, Moscow, Shelepikhinskaya embankment, 34k2, kv 1141 levchukeli@gmail.com Other publications by this author

Introduction

The problem of loneliness and its influence on the psychological characteristics of personality has attracted increasing attention from researchers in recent years. According to modern data, loneliness is not only a subjective emotional experience, but also a factor closely associated with a deterioration in psychological well-being and a decrease in the quality of life ^[1]. According to the World Health Organization, loneliness and social isolation have the same negative impact on health as smoking or obesity and increase the risk of premature death ^[2]. In this regard, the study of the peculiarities of the psychological state of a person, depending on the degree of loneliness, is of particular relevance.

Psychological well-being is one of the key indicators of personal health. Modern researchers consider psychological well-being as a multidimensional construct that includes components such as positive interpersonal relationships, autonomy, personal growth, goals in life, environmental management, and self-acceptance ^[3]. It reflects not only the subjective feeling of happiness, but also the deep processes of human development and self-realization. A high level of psychological well-being contributes to better adaptation to life's difficulties, greater resistance to stress, and a higher level of life satisfaction ^[4]. Lack of psychological well-being, on the contrary, is associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression, deterioration of social adaptation and decreased motivation for personal development.

Satisfaction of basic psychological needs is an important basis for psychological well-being. According to the theory of self-determination developed by E. L. Deci and R. M. Ryan, the basic psychological needs include the needs for autonomy, competence and belonging ^[5]. The basic needs for competence, autonomy, and attachment must be satisfied throughout an individual's life in order to experience an enduring sense of integrativity and well-being, or “eudemonia” ^[6]. Competence is associated with the feeling of being able to cope with solving problems in various circumstances ^[12]. The need for autonomy is expressed in a person's desire to feel like the author of their own actions; the need for competence is associated with the desire to interact effectively with the environment; the need for belonging reflects the desire to establish strong and supportive social ties. The need for autonomy does not coincide with the need for independence, selfishness, or simply freedom of choice ^[13]. The need to establish connections is to feel a sense of closeness, contact with other people, and belonging to a group. satisfaction of basic needs can lead to the development of internal maladaptation, decreased vitality and increased feelings of loneliness.

Experiencing loneliness, in turn, is a complex phenomenon that includes not only objective social isolation, but also a subjective feeling of not having enough meaningful social connections. Loneliness can be perceived as a negative state, accompanied by a feeling of emptiness, isolation, loss of meaning ^[7]. At the same time, it is important to take into account that loneliness is not always pathological: in some cases, it can be a meaningful experience that promotes personal growth and inner development ^[8]. The key point is a person's subjective assessment of their state of loneliness and its emotional coloring.

Modern research emphasizes that the severity of loneliness is closely related to the level of psychological well-being and satisfaction of basic needs. A more intense feeling of loneliness is associated with a violation of the need for belonging, a decrease in autonomy and competence, as well as a deterioration in all components of psychological well-being ^[9]. At the same time, the perception of loneliness as a temporary and surmountable condition can mitigate its negative impact on the internal processes of the individual ^[10]. Thus, the degree of loneliness experience turns out to be an important factor determining the nature of a person's inner state and his ability to adapt to the social space.

In the light of the above, the study of the features of psychological well-being and satisfaction of basic needs, depending on the degree of loneliness, seems to be an urgent area of scientific research. Understanding these relationships will allow us to better uncover the mechanisms of loneliness's influence on personality and form more effective approaches to psychological care and prevention of internal maladaptation.

Research methods

The research methods used were the K. Riff Scale of Psychological Well-being (RPWB), the General Scale of Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs (BPNSS), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and the Loneliness Questionnaire ^[11].

The data were checked for the normality of the distribution using the Shapiro–Wilk criterion. The Mann–Whitney U–test was used to compare the groups. The reliability of the scales is confirmed by the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α ≥ 0.7).

The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05), which underlines the importance of taking into account the degree of loneliness when studying psychological health and developing support programs.

Selection

The study involved 216 respondents aged 19 to 60 years (91.7% of women, 8.3% of men).

The results of the study

Table 1

The relationship between psychological well-being and satisfaction of basic needs

Symbols: * - p<0,05; ** - p<0,01

Table 1

The Relationship Between Psychological Well-Being and Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction

Note: * - p<0,05; ** - p<0,01

The indicator "autonomy" has strong positive correlations with positive relationships (r = 0.502, p<0.01), environmental management (r = 0.532, p<0.01), goals in life (r = 0.511, p<0.01), self-acceptance (r = 0.541, p<0.01) and the general level of psychological well-being (r = 0.619, p<0.01), as well as a moderate positive association with autonomy as a component of well-being (r = 0.386, p<0.01) and personal growth (r = 0.400, p<0,01). This means that the higher the satisfaction with the need for autonomy, the higher the quality of positive social connections, a sense of control over the environment, purposefulness, self-acceptance, and overall psychological well-being. According to the theory of E. Deci and R. Ryan, autonomy as a basic need promotes the development of personal maturity, inner freedom and integrity, which is directly related to high well-being.

The "competence" indicator shows weak positive correlations with positive relationships (r = 0.299, p<0.01), autonomy (r = 0.294, p<0.01), environmental management (r = 0.283, p<0.01), personal growth (r = 0.208, p<0.01), goals in life (r = 0.256, p<0.01), self-acceptance (r = 0.246, p<0.01) and general psychological well-being (r = 0.343, p<0,01). This indicates that the higher the satisfaction with the need for competence, the more a person feels effective, develops personally, accepts himself and builds a meaningful life. In the framework of the interpretation, competence is associated with a sense of ability to cope with life tasks, and its high level contributes to the strengthening of all components of psychological well-being.

The indicator "belonging" has a strong positive correlation with positive relationships (r = 0.599, p<0.01), as well as weak positive relationships with environmental management (r = 0.219, p<0.01), personal growth (r = 0.254, p<0.01), goals in life (r = 0.249, p<0.01), self-acceptance (r = 0.160, p<0.05) and general psychological well-being (r = 0.336, p<0,01). This indicates that the higher the satisfaction of the need for belonging, the higher the quality of social connections, the sense of control over circumstances, the desire for development, the meaningfulness of life and self-acceptance. Belonging provides a basic sense of security, social support, and inclusion in meaningful relationships, which enhances overall psychological health.

The results of the analysis showed that satisfaction of basic psychological needs — autonomy, competence and belonging — is positively associated with the level of psychological well-being. The strongest correlations are found between satisfaction of the need for autonomy and all components of well-being, as well as between satisfaction of the need for belonging and positive relationships. These data confirm that the realization of basic needs plays a key role in maintaining inner balance, personal growth, a sense of meaningfulness in life and social inclusion. Thus, basic psychological needs serve as the foundation for the formation of a high level of psychological well-being of an individual.

Table 2

Comparative analysis of psychological well-being depending on the degree of loneliness

Table 2

Comparative Analysis of Psychological Well-Being Depending on the Degree of Loneliness Experience

According to the indicator "positive relationships with others", individuals with a moderate level of loneliness demonstrated an average value of M=48.02, while those with a pronounced level of loneliness — M=39.21. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). This means that people with moderate loneliness have a higher ability to establish warm, trusting relationships with others. In the context of the methodology of the psychological well-being scale, a high indicator for this parameter indicates the presence of deep interpersonal ties and satisfaction with social contacts. Consequently, the severity of loneliness is associated with a decrease in the quality of social interactions and a sense of social support.

On the "autonomy" scale, individuals with moderate loneliness showed an average value of M=44.79, while those with severe loneliness had an average value of M=39.44 (p=0.001). This indicates a higher degree of independence, independence in thinking and actions among people experiencing moderate loneliness. According to the interpretation of the methodology, autonomy reflects the ability to rely on inner values, and a decrease in this indicator in people with severe loneliness indicates increased dependence on the opinions of others and difficulties in defending personal boundaries.

According to the environmental management parameter, the average value for people with moderate loneliness was M=45.36, and for people with severe loneliness — M=37.18 (p=0.001). Thus, people with a moderate level of loneliness are better able to organize their living space and adapt to the demands of the external environment. Within the framework of the methodology, this indicator reflects the effectiveness of the use of surrounding resources and a sense of control over one's own life. A decrease in this indicator in people with severe loneliness indicates an inner feeling of helplessness and a weak ability to actively interact with the world.

The indicator of "personal growth" in people with a moderate level of loneliness was M=49.67, while in people with severe loneliness — M=45.12 (p=0.004). This indicates a more pronounced focus on development and self-improvement in people with moderate loneliness. In the context of the methodology, personal growth is interpreted as a desire for continuous development and openness to new life opportunities. A low level of this indicator in people with severe loneliness may indicate stagnation in personal development and a decrease in the desire for inner growth.

According to the "goals in life" scale, the average value for people with moderate loneliness was M=46.74, while for those with severe loneliness it was M=40.56 (p=0.001). This indicates a higher meaningfulness of existence and the presence of clear life guidelines for people with moderate loneliness. In the methodology, this parameter reflects a sense of purpose and motivation to achieve goals. A decrease in this indicator in people with severe loneliness indicates a loss of life orientations and a decrease in the sense of meaning in life.

The "self—acceptance" index in people with a moderate level of loneliness was M=48.23, and in people with severe loneliness - M=39.47 (p=0.001). This indicates a more positive attitude towards oneself, the ability to accept one's strengths and weaknesses in people with moderate loneliness. According to the interpretation of the scale, self-acceptance is an important component of inner harmony. A decrease in self-acceptance with pronounced loneliness may indicate internal conflicts, self-criticism, and rejection of one's own experience.

The overall indicator of psychological well—being in people with moderate loneliness was M=282.81, while in people with severe loneliness it was M=241.00 (p=0.001). This confirms that people experiencing loneliness in a pronounced form demonstrate a significantly lower level of integral psychological well-being, which reflects a complex deterioration in the internal state of the individual, a decrease in adaptability and life stability.

The results of the analysis showed that people with a moderate level of loneliness experience have higher indicators of all components of psychological well-being compared with people experiencing severe loneliness. Higher values are observed on all scales: positive relationships, autonomy, environmental management, personal growth, goals in life, and self-acceptance. This indicates that the severity of loneliness has a systemic negative impact on the psychological state of a person, reducing his social activity, ability to self-regulate, desire for development and positive self-esteem. The data obtained emphasize the importance of taking into account the degree of loneliness when developing psychological assistance and maladjustment prevention programs.

Table 3

Comparative analysis of satisfaction of basic needs depending on the degree of loneliness experience

Note: The data is presented in the M ± SD format, where M is the average value and SD is the standard deviation. The significance level is p < 0.05.

Table 3

Comparative Analysis of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Depending on the Degree of Loneliness Experience

Note: Data are presented as M ± SD, where M is the mean and SD is the standard deviation. Significance level p ≤ 0.05.

According to the "autonomy" indicator, individuals with a moderate level of loneliness demonstrated an average value of M=4.69 (SD=0.48), while those with a pronounced level of loneliness demonstrated M=4.31 (SD=0.58). The difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). This indicates that people with moderate loneliness are more likely to feel their ability to act freely and independently, based on internal values and goals. According to the interpretation of the methodology for diagnosing satisfaction of basic psychological needs, a high level of autonomy reflects internal consistency and a sense of authorship of one's actions. Consequently, marked loneliness is accompanied by a decreased sense of control over one's own life and greater external dependence.

On the "belonging" scale, individuals with moderate loneliness have an average value of M=4.64 (SD=0.58), while those with severe loneliness have an average value of M=4.47 (SD=0.65) (p=0.045). This indicates that people with moderate loneliness are more satisfied with their need to establish meaningful and supportive social connections. In the context of the methodology, the need for belonging reflects the importance of a sense of social engagement, acceptance, and emotional support from others. A decrease in the level of belonging with pronounced loneliness indicates a lack of social inclusion and an increased sense of isolation.

According to the "competence" indicator, persons with a moderate level of loneliness experience showed an average value of M=4.64 (SD=0.58), and persons with severe loneliness — M=4.46 (SD=0.63) (p=0.043). This suggests that people with moderate loneliness experience a greater sense of their own effectiveness, ability to achieve their goals and cope with life tasks. In the methodology, competence is interpreted as a person's awareness of their ability to influence events and interact effectively with the environment. A decrease in this indicator with pronounced loneliness reflects a decrease in the sense of one's own effectiveness and faith in the ability to cope with life's difficulties.

The overall level of satisfaction of basic psychological needs also turned out to be significantly higher in people with moderate loneliness (M=13.97, SD=1.64) compared with people with a pronounced level of loneliness (M=13.24, SD=1.86), the difference is significant (p=0.001). This confirms that people with severe loneliness experience more difficulties in meeting key basic needs, which can weaken their internal resources and reduce the level of psychological adaptation.

The results of the analysis showed that people with a moderate level of loneliness experience have a higher satisfaction with basic psychological needs — autonomy, belonging and competence — compared with people experiencing severe loneliness. These data confirm that the severity of loneliness negatively affects the satisfaction of fundamental psychological needs, reducing the sense of self-government, effectiveness and social inclusion of the individual. Thus, the degree of loneliness experience plays an important role in shaping a person's inner state and their ability to function adaptively.

Conclusions

The conducted research revealed important features of psychological well-being and satisfaction of basic needs, depending on the degree of loneliness.

1. It was found that people with a pronounced level of loneliness experience have significantly lower indicators of psychological well-being in all the parameters studied. They demonstrate a decrease in the quality of positive interpersonal relationships, less autonomy, reduced ability to manage life circumstances, a lower level of personal growth, less determination and weaker self-acceptance. This indicates that experiencing loneliness is strongly associated with a violation of both social adaptability and the internal integrity of the individual. Thus, loneliness acts not only as a social phenomenon, but also as a deeply personal phenomenon that affects all levels of psychological functioning.

2. Differences in satisfaction of basic psychological needs are revealed depending on the degree of loneliness experience. Individuals with moderate levels of loneliness are significantly more likely to satisfy their needs for autonomy, belonging, and competence. While people with a pronounced experience of loneliness feel a greater lack of a sense of inner freedom, social engagement and personal effectiveness. These results emphasize that the degree of loneliness is directly related to the level of realization of basic psychological needs, the violation of which is one of the central mechanisms for the formation of internal maladaptation.

3. The established links between satisfaction of basic needs and psychological well-being demonstrate a positive correlation, regardless of the severity of loneliness. This indicates that meeting basic needs not only contributes to the overall well-being of the individual, but also plays the role of a mediator that reduces the negative effects of experiencing loneliness.

4. The data obtained allows for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which loneliness affects personal development and inner stability. A high level of satisfaction of basic needs, especially autonomy, mitigates the negative impact of loneliness by supporting inner activity, purposefulness, and positive self-esteem. While their deficiency enhances the destructive effects of loneliness, leading to a decrease in internal coherence, a sense of control and social inclusion.

Thus, the results of the study confirm that the degree of loneliness is a critical factor determining the characteristics of the internal state of a person. Experiencing loneliness is strongly associated with a complex decrease in psychological well-being and satisfaction with basic needs, which makes a person more vulnerable to stress, reduces his adaptive resources and increases the risk of developing emotional disorders.

Practical significance

The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the possibility of using the data to develop psychological prevention and intervention programs. Special attention should be paid to interpreting loneliness, developing autonomy, strengthening a sense of competence, and forming stable social bonds. Psychological programs aimed at meeting basic needs and increasing the meaningfulness of life goals can help mitigate the negative effects of loneliness and strengthen psychological health.

The prospects for further research may be related to a deeper analysis of the role of individual differences in the interpretation of loneliness, the study of the mediating role of basic needs in the formation of psychological well-being, as well as the study of effective methods of preventing loneliness at different stages of the life cycle.