Basic Psychological Needs and Beneficence in the Volunteer Experience: Exploring Satisfaction, Frustration, and Their Links to Well-Being and Ill-Being

This study examined how the satisfaction and frustration of autonomy, competence, relatedness, and beneficence (the sense of prosocial impact) relate to volunteer well-being (meaningfulness of volunteer work, volunteer satisfaction, and general well-being) and ill-being (burnout and intent to leave). By investigating beneficence alongside the three basic psychological needs in Self-Determination Theory, we aimed to contribute to debates on its potential inclusion as a fourth basic need. Data from 650 Hungarian volunteers were analyzed using variable- and person-oriented approaches. Results indicated that the satisfaction of the established needs predicted well-being indicators (with outcome-specific patterns), and beneficence satisfaction emerged as a unique predictor beyond them. Ill-being was primarily associated with the frustration of autonomy and relatedness, whereas beneficence frustration showed no independent association with negative outcomes. Cluster analysis identified four distinct need profiles differing in well-being and ill-being. Findings highlight the central role of psychological needs in volunteer functioning.