The role of basic psychological needs satisfaction and subjective well-being in the relationship between identification with all humanity and physical health problems: A serial mediation model
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online September, 2025
The role of basic psychological needs satisfaction and subjective well-being in the relationship between identification with all humanity and physical health problems: A serial mediation model
The present study sought to explore the mediating effects of basic psychological needs satisfaction (BPNS) and subjective well-being (SWB) on the link between identification with all humanity (IWAH) and physical health problem (PHP). The sample consisted of 552 young and middle-aged Turkish adults (Mage = 29.53 ± 8.67; 60.0% women, 40.0% men). The findings indicated that BPNS has a statistically significant mediating role in the relationship between IWAH and PHP, whereas SWB did not have a mediating role in this relationship. However, the findings revealed that BPNS and SWB have a serial mediating role in the relationship between IWAH and PHP, even while controlling for gender, age, and socioeconomic status. The results improve our understanding of how social identity may be related to physical health, and fill a gap in the existing literature on IWAH. Thus, the current study has implications for future research and practice by drawing attention to IWAH.
AlbarelloFCrocettiERubiniM (2021) Developing identification with humanity and social well-being through social identification with peer groups in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence50(6): 1157–1172.
2.
AvanziLSchuhSCFraccaroliF, et al. (2015) Why does organizational identification relate to reduced employee burnout? The mediating influence of social support and collective efficacy. Work and Stress29(1): 1–10.
3.
BacanlıHCihangir-çankayaZ (2003) İhtiyaç Doyumu Ölçeğinin geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalı şması. VII. Ulusal Psikolojik Danı şma ve Rehberlik Kongresine Sunulmuş Bildiri.
4.
BassettJFClevelandAJ (2019) Identification with all humanity, support for refugees and for extreme counter-terrorism measures. Journal of Social and Political Psychology7(1): 310–334.
5.
BegenyCTHuoYJ (2018) Is it always good to feel valued? The psychological benefits and costs of higher perceived status in one’s ethnic minority group. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations21(1): 193–213.
6.
BizumicBReynoldsKJTurnerJC, et al. (2009) The role of the group in individual functioning: School identification and the psychological Well-Being of staff and students. Applied Psychology58(1): 171–192.
7.
BrookATGarciaJFlemingM (2008) The effects of multiple identities on psychological well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin34(12): 1588–1600.
8.
BudakFÖzerÖZubaroğlu-YanardağM (2018) Investigation of the factors affecting the physical health perceptions of Syrian asylum seekers. Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi5(3): 68–75.
9.
ÇağışZ (2023) The mediating role of subjective well-being and basic psychological needs in the relationship between quiet ego and self-rated health. Nesne11(27): 25–38.
10.
ChenBVansteenkisteMBeyersW, et al. (2015) Basic psychological need satisfaction, need frustration, and need strength across four cultures. Motivation and Emotion39(2): 216–236.
11.
ChirkovVRyanRMKimY, et al. (2003) Differentiating autonomy from individualism and independence: A self-determination theory perspective on internalization of cultural orientations and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology84(1): 97–110.
12.
CruwysTHaslamSADingleGA, et al. (2014) Depression and social identity: An integrative review. Personality and Social Psychology Review18(3): 215–238.
13.
DeciERyanR (1991) A motivational approach to self: Integration in personality. In: DienstbierR (ed.) Perspectives on Motivation. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, pp.237–288.
14.
DeciELRyanRM (2000) The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry11(4): 227–268.
15.
DeciELRyanRM (2008) Hedonia, eudaimonia, and well-being: An introduction. Journal of Happiness Studies9(1): 1–11.
16.
de HoogNPat-ElR (2024) Social identity and health-related behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science & Medicine344: 116629.
DienerEDienerM (1995) Cross-cultural correlates of life satisfaction and self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology68(4): 653–663.
19.
DienerEEmmonsRALarsenRJ, et al. (1985) The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment49(1): 71–75.
20.
DienerEWirtzDTovW, et al. (2010) New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research97(2): 143–156.
21.
DobewallHTarkRAavikT (2018) Health as a value and its association with health-related quality of life, mental health, physical health, and subjective well-being. Applied Research in Quality of Life13(4): 859–872.
22.
DunwoodyPTMcFarlandSG (2018) Support for anti-Muslim policies: The role of political traits and threat perception. Political Psychology39(1): 89–106.
23.
DurakMSenol-DurakEGencozT (2010) Psychometric properties of the satisfaction with life scale among Turkish university students, correctional officers, and elderly adults. Social Indicators Research99(3): 413–429.
24.
FengYWarmenhovenHWilsonA, et al. (2022) The identification with all humanity (IWAH) scale: Its psychometric properties and associations with help-seeking during COVID-19. Current Psychology42(29): 1–13.
25.
FortierMSSweetSNO’SullivanTL, et al. (2007) A self-determination process model of physical activity adoption in the context of a randomized controlled trial. Psychology of Sport and Exercise8(5): 741–757.
26.
GençözT (2000) Positive and negative affect schedule: a study of validity and reliability. Turkish Journal of Psychology15(46): 19–26.
27.
GeorgeDMalleryM (2019) IBM SPSS Statistics 26 Step by Step: A Simple Guide and Reference. Milton Park: Routledge.
28.
GonzálezMGSwansonDPLynchM, et al. (2016) Testing satisfaction of basic psychological needs as a mediator of the relationship between socioeconomic status and physical and mental health. Journal of Health Psychology21(6): 972–982.
29.
GreenawayKHCruwysTHaslamSA, et al. (2016) Social identities promote well-being because they satisfy global psychological needs. European Journal of Social Psychology46(3): 294–307.
30.
HackettJHamerK (2023) Editorial: Global human identification: Studies of its roots, how it may be enlarged, and its expressions in attitudes and behavior. Frontiers in Psychology14: 1253525.
31.
HaerensLAeltermanNVansteenkisteM, et al. (2015) Do perceived autonomy-supportive and controlling teaching relate to physical education students’ motivational experiences through unique pathways? Distinguishing between the bright and dark side of motivation. Psychology of Sport and Exercise16: 26–36.
32.
HamerKMcFarlandS (2023) The role of early intergroup experiences for identification with all humanity in adulthood. Frontiers in Psychology14: 1042602.
33.
HamerKMcFarlandSPenczekM (2019) What lies beneath? Predictors of identification with all humanity. Personality and Individual Differences141(4): 258–267.
34.
HamerKPenczekMBilewiczM (2017) “Humanum ignoscere est”. The relationship of national and supranational identifications with intergroup forgiveness. Personality and Individual Differences105: 257–263.
35.
HaslamCHolmeAHaslamSA, et al. (2008) Maintaining group memberships: Social identity continuity predicts well-being after stroke. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation18(5-6): 671–691.
36.
HaslamSAJettenJPostmesT, et al. (2009) Social identity, health and well-being: An emerging agenda for applied psychology. Applied Psychology58(1): 1–23.
37.
HaslamSAOakesPJReynoldsKJ, et al. (1999) Social identity salience and the emergence of stereotype consensus. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin25(7): 809–818.
38.
HayesA (2018) Introduction to Mediation, Moderation, and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression-Based Approach. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
39.
HodgesJMGoreJS (2019) Social connections and well-being: With whom do you identify and why?Psychological Studies64(4): 436–446.
40.
HofstedeG (1980) Culture and organizations. International Studies of Management and Organization10(4): 15–41.
41.
HuangLZhangT (2021) Perceived social support, psychological capital, and subjective well-being among college students in the context of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asia-Pacific Education Researcher31(5): 563–574.
42.
ImamoğluEO (1998) Individualism and collectivism in a model and scale of balanced differentiation and integration. Journal of Psychology132(1): 95–105.
43.
IyerAJettenJTsivrikosD, et al. (2009) The more (and the more compatible) the merrier: Multiple group memberships and identity compatibility as predictors of adjustment after life transitions. British Journal of Social Psychology48(Pt 4): 707–733.
44.
JettenJBranscombeNRHaslamSA, et al. (2015) Having a lot of a good thing: Multiple important group memberships as a source of self-esteem. Plos One10(5): e0124609.
45.
JettenJHaslamCAlexanderS (2012) The Social Cure: Identity, Health and Well-Being. Hove: Psychology Press.
46.
JettenJHaslamSACruwysT, et al. (2017) Advancing the social identity approach to health and well-being: Progressing the social cure research agenda. European Journal of Social Psychology47(7): 789–802.
47.
KachanoffFJWohlMJAKoestnerR, et al. (2020) Them, us, and I: How group contexts influence basic psychological needs. Current Directions in Psychological Science29(1): 47–54.
48.
Kağıtçıbaşı C (1990) İnsan-Aile-Kültür. Remzi Kitabevi, Istanbul.
49.
KagitcibasiC (2005) Autonomy and relatedness in cultural context: Implications for self and family. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology36(4): 403–422.
50.
KitayamaSMarkusHRKurokawaM (2000) Culture, emotion, and well-being: Good feelings in Japan and the United States. Cognition & Emotion14(1): 93–124.
51.
KrömekeAShaniM (2024) Flourishing in life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: The role of illness identity and health-related quality of life. Journal of Health Psychology. DOI: 10.1177/13591053241260288.
52.
LegetDLLaCailleLJHookerSA, et al. (2024) Applying self-determination theory to internalized weight stigma and mental health correlates among young and middle adult women: A structural equation model. Journal of Health Psychology. DOI: 10.1177/13591053241248283.
53.
LoyLSReeseGSpenceA (2022) Facing a common human fate: Relating global identity and climate change mitigation. Political Psychology43(3): 563–581.
54.
MackieDSmithE, et al. (2015) Intergroup emotions. In: MikulincerMShaverPDovidioJ (eds) APA Handbook of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 2. Group Processes. American Psychological Association, Washington, pp.263–293.
55.
MarkusHKitayamaS (1994) The cultural construction of self and emotion: Implications for social behavior. In: KitayamaSMarkusH (eds) Emotion and Culture: Empirical Studies of Mutual Influence. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pp.89–130.
56.
MartelaFLehmus-SunAParkerPD, et al. (2023) Needs and well-being across Europe: Basic psychological needs are closely connected with well-being, meaning, and symptoms of depression in 27 European countries. Social Psychological and Personality Science14(5): 501–514.
57.
MaslowA (1968) Toward a Psychology of Being. Van Nostrand, Princeton: NJ.
58.
McFarlandSWebbMBrownD (2012) All humanity is my ingroup: A measure and studies of identification with all humanity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology103(5): 830–853.
59.
MikulincerMShaverPR (2007) Boosting attachment security to promote mental health, prosocial values, and inter-group tolerance. Psychological Inquiry18(3): 139–156.
60.
MillerKWakefieldJRSaniF (2016) Greater number of group identifications is associated with healthier behaviour in adolescents. British Journal of Developmental Psychology34(2): 291–305.
61.
MolixLANicholsCP (2013) Satisfaction of basic psychological needs as a mediator of the relationship between community esteem and wellbeing. International Journal of Wellbeing3(1): 20–34.
62.
NgJYNtoumanisNThøgersen-NtoumaniC, et al. (2012) Self-determination theory applied to health contexts: A meta-analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science7(4): 325–340.
63.
OishiSDienerESuhE, et al. (1999) Value as a moderator in subjective well-being. Journal of Personality67(1): 157–184.
64.
PascoeEARichmanLS (2009) Perceived discrimination and health: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin135(4): 531–554.
65.
PongV (2021) Global versus local framing of the issue of food waste: The role of identification with all humanity and the implications for climate change communication. Asian Journal Of Social Psychology24(2): 221–231.
66.
PreacherKJHayesAF (2008) Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods40(3): 879–891.
67.
ReisHTSheldonKMGableSL, et al. (2000) Daily well-being: The role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin26(4): 419–435.
68.
RyanRDeciE (2017) Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Motivation, Development, and Wellness. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
69.
RyanRMDeciEL (2000) Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology25(1): 54–67.
70.
RyanRMDeciEL (2020) Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective: Definitions, theory, practices, and future directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology61: 101860.
71.
RyanRMHutaVDeciEL (2008) Living well: A self-determination theory perspective on eudaimonia. Journal of Happiness Studies9(1): 139–170.
72.
RyanRRyanWDi DomenicoS, et al. (2019) The nature and the conditions of human autonomy and flourishing: Self-determination theory and basic psychological needs. In: RyanR (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Human Motivation. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp.89–110.
73.
RyffC (2013) Eudaimonic well-being and health: Mapping consequences of self-realization. In: WatermanA (ed.) The Best Within Us; Positive Psychology Perspectives on Eudaimonia. Washington: American Psychological Association, pp.77–98.
74.
RyffCD (1995) Psychological well-being in adult life. Current Directions in Psychological Science4(4): 99–104.
75.
RyffCD (2014) Psychological well-being revisited: Advances in the science and practice of eudaimonia. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics83(1): 10–28.
76.
SchatACHKellowayEKDesmaraisS (2005) The Physical Health Questionnaire (PHQ): Construct validation of a self-report scale of somatic symptoms. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology10(4): 363–381.
77.
SchmittMTBranscombeNR (2002) The meaning and consequences of perceived discrimination in disadvantaged and privileged social groups. European Review of Social Psychology12(1): 167–199.
78.
SharmaSSharmaM (2010) Self, social identity and psychological well-being. Psychological Studies55(2): 118–136.
79.
SheldonKMBettencourtBA (2002) Psychological need-satisfaction and subjective well-being within social groups. British Journal of Social Psychology41(Pt 1): 25–38.
80.
ShostromEL (1964) An inventory for the measurement of self-actualization. Educational and Psychological Measurement24(2): 207–218.
81.
TajfelHTurnerJ (1979) An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In: AustinWWorchelS (eds) The Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations. Brooks/Cole, Wadsworth, Belmont: CA, pp.33–47.
82.
TajfelHTurnerJ (1986) The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In: WorchelSAustinW (eds) Psychology of Intergroup Relations. Wokingham: Nelson-Hall, pp.7–24.
83.
TurnerJHoggMOakesP, et al. (1987) Rediscovering the Social Group: A Selfcategorization Theory. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
84.
VansteenkisteMRyanRM (2013) On psychological growth and vulnerability: Basic psychological need satisfaction and need frustration as a unifying principle. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration23(3): 263–280.
85.
VansteenkisteMSoenensBRyanR (2023) Basic psychological needs theory: A conceptual and empirical review of key criteria. In: RyanR (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Self-Determination. Theory New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp.84–123.
86.
WangYHuXYangC (2024) The mediating role of community identity in the relationship between social class and life satisfaction: Evidence from Chinese community residents. Journal of Health Psychology29(8): 785–796.
87.
WatsonDClarkLATellegenA (1988) Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology54(6): 1063–1070.
88.
WilliamsGCNiemiecCPPatrickH, et al. (2009) The importance of supporting autonomy and perceived competence in facilitating long-term tobacco abstinence. Annals of Behavioral Medicine37(3): 315–324.
89.
WroschCScheierMFMillerGE (2013) Goal adjustment capacities, subjective well-being, and physical health. Social and Personality Psychology Compass7(12): 847–860.
