Predicting student's basic needs through motivational appeals: Outcomes on grit and well-being

Abstract

Following a prospective design, the present study aimed to analyse the predictive value teachers’ motivational appeals (i.e., the messages that appeal to a specific motivation) have on students’ basic psychological need profiles. We also examine how these profiles predict students’ outcomes on grit and well-being. The sample of the study was comprised of a total of 655 secondary students. To estimate students’ profiles a person-centered approach was followed revealing four different profiles: thwarted, fulfilled, low fulfilment and neutral profiles. Teachers’ that relied on autonomous motivational appeals were more likely to have students that belonged to the more adaptive profiles, whereas teachers who relied on amotivational appeals had students who were more likely to belong to the non-adaptive profiles. Finally, students whose basic need profiles where more adaptive reported higher levels of both grith and well-being. Thus, the present findings emphasize a new resource teachers can rely on to promote students’ needs, well-being, and grit experiences.