Testing an Online Program to Foster Need Crafting During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a threat not only to individuals’ physical health but also to their mental health. Self-Determination Theory assumes that the satisfaction of basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness and competence promotes psychological well-being during destabilizing times. Yet, the pandemic seriously hampered individuals’ opportunities to satisfy their needs. The current study provides a preliminary test of the effectiveness of a 7-session online program, LifeCraft, that promotes individuals’ proactive attempts to uplift their need-based experiences (i.e., need crafting). Next to the effects on individuals’ need crafting skills, we examined program-effects on adults’ need-based experiences and mental health and we explored the role of participants’ program engagement. An experimental study among 725 Belgian adults [ M age = 51.67 ( range = 26 – 85); 68.55% female] was conducted, with an experimental condition of 252 and a control condition of 473 participants. At the level of the entire sample, there was limited evidence for the effectiveness of the program. There were only small immediate program-effects on need crafting and well-being. After taking into account the role of program engagement, findings showed that the program was more beneficial for participants who actively participated, with these participants reporting immediate and stable increases in need crafting, need satisfaction and well-being and decreases in need frustration. Further, changes in need crafting fully mediated changes in need-based experiences and well-being. To conclude, the findings provide initial evidence for the effectiveness of LifeCraft during the COVID-19 pandemic, with active participation being a prerequisite for the program to be effective.

Psychological need fulfillment as a source of resilience: Its protective role in concerns and symptoms of anxiety and depression during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…For instance, Behzadnia and FatahModares (2020) showed that students who followed an intervention on how to support their own needs reported higher need fulfillment, more vitality, and less test anxiety across time. Similarly, Laporte et al (2022) showed that an intervention targeting need crafting was effective in increasing adults' need crafting during the COVID-19 crisis, at least when people were sufficiently engaged during the intervention. In turn, need crafting was related to more need fulfillment and better mental health.…”

“…Examining these dynamics within and across different levels of analysis has both theoretical and applied value, because experiences of need satisfaction are susceptible to change and can be targeted through interventions or counseling (e.g. Laporte et al, 2022).…”

Psychological science and its societal mission during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic: The Motivation Barometer as an evidence‐informed policy instrument in Belgium

“…The brief reporting of the findings in the media helped the population to contextualize their concerns, motivations, and behavior. Also, through opinion pieces and media interventions, we informed the population that the pursuit of need-satisfying activities is a proactive pathway to preserve one's wellbeing and to experience a sense of meaning in distressing times (Laporte et al, 2021(Laporte et al, , 2022. Other opinion pieces addressed the role of motivation and how policymakers could develop a narrative and communication style that supports the long-term commitment of the population (Pope et al, 2018).…”

“…Further, in terms of methodology , the Motivation Barometer relied on a variety of research designs and statistical methods to collect and analyze findings. We used both cross‐sectional cohorts (e.g., Van Oost et al., 2022) and longitudinal follow‐up surveys (e.g., Waterschoot, Van Oost, Vansteenkiste et al., 2023), but also administered experimental designs in both a vignette format (e.g., Morbée, Waterschoot, et al., 2022) and in real‐life intervention studies (e.g., Laporte et al., 2022).…”

“…Given the growth‐fostering and resilient role of basic needs during distressing times, we developed two successful e‐health interventions to foster need crafting, need satisfaction, and mental health in both adults (Laporte et al., 2022) and university students (van den Bogaard et al., 2023; see also Cantarero et al., 2021).…”