Journal Article

Associations Between Personality Traits and Autonomous Academic and Friendship Motivation: The Mediating Roles of Trait Behavioural Expressions and Need Satisfaction

Sullivan, Rebecca, Green-Demers, Isabelle

2026

Overview

Research shows that the five-factor model (FFM) personality traits influence autonomous motivation as conceptualized by self-determination theory. However, the mechanisms that explain these associations are unclear. The goal of the present study was to examine potential mediators of these associations: behavioural expressions of personality traits and basic psychological need (BPN) satisfaction. Structural equation modelling was performed on correlational questionnaire data (N = 635). Results showed that behavioural expressions mediated the positive (or negative for neuroticism) associations between their respective trait and BPN satisfaction. Moreover, BPN satisfaction mediated positive associations between the beneficial behavioural expressions and autonomous academic and friendship motivation and mediated the negative associations between behavioural neuroticism and both types of motivation. Finally, behavioural expressions of traits and BPN satisfaction acted as sequential mediators of the associations between FFM traits and both academic and friendship motivation. These findings expand our understanding of the relationships between personality traits and autonomous motivation by identifying two processes through which it proceeds. La recherche montre que les traits de personnalité du modèle à cinq facteurs (FFM) influencent la motivation autonome telle qu'elle est conceptualisée par la théorie de l'autodétermination. Cependant, les mécanismes qui expliquent ces associations ne sont pas clairs. Le but de la présente étude était d'examiner les médiateurs potentiels de ces associations : les expressions comportementales des traits de personnalité et la satisfaction des besoins psychologiques fondamentaux (BPN). Un modèle d'équation structurelle a été réalisé sur les données corrélationnelles du questionnaire (N = 635). Les résultats ont montré que les expressions comportementales servaient de médiateur aux associations positives (ou négatives pour le neuroticisme) entre leur trait respectif et la satisfaction des BPN. En outre, la satisfaction des BPN a servi de médiateur aux associations positives entre les expressions comportementales bénéfiques et la motivation autonome pour les études et l'amitié, et a servi de médiateur aux associations négatives entre le neuroticisme comportemental et ces deux types de motivation. Enfin, les expressions comportementales des traits et la satisfaction des BPN ont agi comme des médiateurs séquentiels des associations entre les traits de personnalité du modèle à cinq facteurs et la motivation pour les études et l'amitié. Ces résultats élargissent notre compréhension des relations entre les traits de personnalité et la motivation autonome en identifiant deux processus par lesquels elle passe. Public Significance Statement The present study highlights the critical role that individuals have in supporting their own basic psychological need satisfaction. People have agency to change their behaviours, which can help satisfy their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. These needs are fundamental to increasing autonomous motivation in two life contexts: academics and friendships.

• Publisher: Educational Publishing Foundation,Canadian Psychological Association
• Subject: Academic Achievement Motivation / Behavior / Education / Female / Five factor model / Friendship / Human / Intrinsic Motivation / Male / Motivation / Need Satisfaction / Neuroticism / Personal relationships / Personality / Personality Traits / Psychological Needs / Questionnaires / Satisfaction / Self concept / Self determination / Self-Determination Theory / Structural equation modeling / University students / Well being / Young adults