Basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration forming five profiles with associations to loneliness and relationship status

Grounded in self-determination theory, this study aimed to (1) identify distinct profiles of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration (BPNSF) and (2) examine associations of loneliness, relationship status, age, and gender with profile assignment. An online survey was conducted with a diverse nonclinical adult sample (N = 383; 54.5% women; aged 18–75) using the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Latent profile analysis revealed five BPNSFS profiles, including an Average profile. Two congruent profiles emerged: Need Fulfillment (high satisfaction, low frustration) and Need Unfulfillment (low satisfaction, high frustration). Two mixed profiles were also identified: Frustrated Competence & Autonomy (high relatedness satisfaction alongside frustration in competence and autonomy) and Frustrated Relatedness (elevated relatedness frustration with moderate satisfaction in competence and autonomy). Regarding covariates, associations with the Average and mixed profiles were weaker than those observed for the congruent profiles. Loneliness was most strongly linked to the Need Unfulfillment profile, with this association moderated by gender (stronger for women) and by relationship status (stronger for single participants). Findings support the independence of need satisfaction and frustration as dimensions of psychological need fulfillment, confirm two robust congruent profiles, and indicate weaker associations within mixed profiles.