College Honors Program

Date of Creation

4-23-2025

Document Type

Campus Access Only

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Lindsey Caola

Abstract

This study explores the concept of psychological need conflict within a sample of 79 undergraduate students. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, the research examined how daily experiences of need conflict relate to stress, anxiety, and affect. Participants completed daily surveys for seven days, and a subset engaged in follow-up interviews. Quantitative results showed that need conflict was significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety, stress, negative affect, and positive affect. No significant differences in need conflict were found by day of the week, class year, or gender. Qualitative findings revealed that students often prioritized external demands over personal desires, with relatedness frequently sacrificed. Participants who were interviewed described lingering guilt and emotional discomfort when choosing one need over another. These findings suggest that need conflict is emotionally complex: while it may generate stress, it can also reflect engagement with a full, meaningful life. This research contributes to the growing understanding of how students navigate competing psychological demands, with implications for promoting balanced need satisfaction in academic environments.

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Available for download on Wednesday, May 15, 2030

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