When alcohol fills the gap: Basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration predict drinking patterns.

OBJECTIVE: Test whether perceived basic psychological need satisfaction from alcohol interacts with basic psychological need frustration to predict hazardous/harmful drinking consistent with self-determination theory's need-density hypothesis. METHOD: = 786, 3,358 observations) that assessed effects of daily need frustration and baseline need satisfaction from alcohol on drinking. RESULTS: = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [1.06, 1.42]) and increased rate of daily drinking (expressed as an incidence rate ratio = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [1.12, 1.31]). We did not find a clear interaction between daily need frustration and need satisfaction from alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: People who find alcohol need satisfying drink more, especially when they have chronic basic psychological need frustration. Day-to-day fluctuations in need frustration had limited influence. If findings are confirmed in experimental studies, interventions that reduce persistent need frustration or that help meet basic psychological needs in healthier ways may reduce alcohol consumption. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).