Psychological Need Satisfaction and Engagement in Leisure and Work Domains

Previous research has demonstrated positive correlations between need satisfaction and self-reported engagement (Van den Broeck, 2008). Time spent on activities has been used as a measure of engagement but not much research has been conducted with need satisfaction. The purpose of this study was three-fold: 1) to assess how need satisfaction may influence time spent in domains; 2) to assess whether importance influences the relationship between need satisfaction and time spent in domains; and 3) whether time spent in domains is influenced by domain need satisfaction when assessing engagement. Participants were recruited on Prolific to assess engagement in work and leisure domains over six months, as well as rate domain need satisfaction and importance in each domain. We found that although overall need satisfaction was positively related to greater engagement, fluctuations in need satisfaction over time did not predict engagement. This was found in leisure but not in work domains.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Carleton University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Gunpat, Brittany Sarah-Anne

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2026 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, distribution to students, research and scholarship. Theses may only be shared by linking to the Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be copied without proper attribution to the author; no part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

10.22215/etd/2026-17026

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/45183