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Preliminary Development and Validation of the Students' Basic Psychological Needs Frustration at School Scale

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Title: Preliminary Development and Validation of the Students' Basic Psychological Needs Frustration at School Scale
Language: English
Authors: Jun Li (ORCID 0000-0003-2446-1912), Shan Shao, E. Scott Huebner, Lili Tian (ORCID 0000-0002-4686-5734)
Source: Psychology in the Schools. 2026 63(3):571-588.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Psychological Needs, Psychological Patterns, Test Construction, Psychometrics, Test Validity, Factor Structure, Factor Analysis, Personal Autonomy, Goodness of Fit, Depression (Psychology), Anxiety, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Self Esteem, Test Reliability, Student Adjustment
DOI: 10.1002/pits.70111
ISSN: 0033-3085
1520-6807
Abstract: Basic psychological needs frustration varies across life domains, highlighting the need for domain-specific assessment instruments. However, a psychometrically sound scale to measure students' basic psychological needs frustration within the school context has not yet been established. This study therefore aimed to develop and validate the Students' Basic Psychological Needs Frustration at School Scale (SBPNFSS). Data were collected from a large convenience sample of Chinese students aged 7-19 years, and the scale's psychometric properties were systematically evaluated through a three-study procedure. In Study 1 (N = 1,186), the scale was developed and its underlying structure was explored; exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and exploratory graph analysis (EGA) revealed a correlated three-factor structure comprising autonomy frustration, relatedness frustration, and competence frustration. In Study 2 (N = 1,614), this three-factor structure was cross-validated in an independent sample using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), showing very good model fit. Evidence was provided for the scale's convergent and discriminant validity and internal consistency. Criterion-related validity was supported by significant associations with depression and anxiety symptoms and self-esteem; full scalar measurement invariance was also established across gender, age, and socioeconomic status. In Study 3, the 1-month longitudinal follow-up (N = 1,441) supported the scale's test-retest reliability and longitudinal measurement invariance, and demonstrated its predictive validity through significant associations with future student engagement and school affect. Overall, the findings provide strong preliminary support for the SBPNFSS as a reliable and valid tool for assessing students' basic psychological needs frustration at school.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496592
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Preliminary Development and Validation of the Students' Basic Psychological Needs Frustration at School Scale
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jun+Li%22">Jun Li</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2446-1912">0000-0003-2446-1912</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shan+Shao%22">Shan Shao</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22E%2E+Scott+Huebner%22">E. Scott Huebner</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lili+Tian%22">Lili Tian</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4686-5734">0000-0002-4686-5734</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Psychology+in+the+Schools%22"><i>Psychology in the Schools</i></searchLink>. 2026 63(3):571-588.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 18
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+Needs%22">Psychological Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+Patterns%22">Psychological Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Construction%22">Test Construction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychometrics%22">Psychometrics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Factor+Structure%22">Factor Structure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Factor+Analysis%22">Factor Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Personal+Autonomy%22">Personal Autonomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Goodness+of+Fit%22">Goodness of Fit</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Depression+%28Psychology%29%22">Depression (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Symptoms+%28Individual+Disorders%29%22">Symptoms (Individual Disorders)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Esteem%22">Self Esteem</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Reliability%22">Test Reliability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Adjustment%22">Student Adjustment</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/pits.70111
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 0033-3085<br />1520-6807
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Basic psychological needs frustration varies across life domains, highlighting the need for domain-specific assessment instruments. However, a psychometrically sound scale to measure students' basic psychological needs frustration within the school context has not yet been established. This study therefore aimed to develop and validate the Students' Basic Psychological Needs Frustration at School Scale (SBPNFSS). Data were collected from a large convenience sample of Chinese students aged 7-19 years, and the scale's psychometric properties were systematically evaluated through a three-study procedure. In Study 1 (N = 1,186), the scale was developed and its underlying structure was explored; exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and exploratory graph analysis (EGA) revealed a correlated three-factor structure comprising autonomy frustration, relatedness frustration, and competence frustration. In Study 2 (N = 1,614), this three-factor structure was cross-validated in an independent sample using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), showing very good model fit. Evidence was provided for the scale's convergent and discriminant validity and internal consistency. Criterion-related validity was supported by significant associations with depression and anxiety symptoms and self-esteem; full scalar measurement invariance was also established across gender, age, and socioeconomic status. In Study 3, the 1-month longitudinal follow-up (N = 1,441) supported the scale's test-retest reliability and longitudinal measurement invariance, and demonstrated its predictive validity through significant associations with future student engagement and school affect. Overall, the findings provide strong preliminary support for the SBPNFSS as a reliable and valid tool for assessing students' basic psychological needs frustration at school.
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        Value: 10.1002/pits.70111
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 571
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Psychological Needs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Construction
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      – SubjectFull: Psychometrics
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      – SubjectFull: Test Validity
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      – SubjectFull: Factor Structure
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      – SubjectFull: Factor Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Personal Autonomy
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      – SubjectFull: Goodness of Fit
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      – SubjectFull: Depression (Psychology)
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      – SubjectFull: Self Esteem
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      – SubjectFull: Test Reliability
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      – SubjectFull: Student Adjustment
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Preliminary Development and Validation of the Students' Basic Psychological Needs Frustration at School Scale
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            NameFull: Jun Li
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            NameFull: Shan Shao
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            NameFull: E. Scott Huebner
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            NameFull: Lili Tian
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              Y: 2026
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