Social Exclusion and Basic Psychological Needs: The Moderating Role of Childhood Trauma

Abstract

Based on Self-Determination Theory, this study examined the relation between social exclusion and basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration, and investigated the possible moderating role of childhood trauma. Given the adverse consequences of all study variables and yet mixed results in previous literature, this study aimed to better understand the less examined underlying mechanisms of social exclusion, need satisfaction and need frustration. Participants were 171 young adults (Mage = 24.11; SD = 2.88; range: 18-30 years; 65.6% female) who were randomly assigned to a social inclusion or exclusion condition in an online ball tossing game called Cyberball, and completed questionnaires on traumatic childhood experiences, need satisfaction and frustration. The results of this experiment showed that social exclusion was not related to need satisfaction or need frustration. Additionally, childhood trauma did not moderate this relation. However, a history of childhood trauma predicted less need satisfaction and more need frustration. The present findings suggest to further explore the link between social exclusion, childhood trauma and basic psychological needs.