Abstract
Although existential loneliness seems to be a natural consequence of being human, some people may experience it more intensely. In this study, it was aimed to investigate whether frustration intolerance, which is one of the basic concepts of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and psychological need frustration, which is the basic concept of Self-determination Theory predicted existential loneliness or not. A total of 294 adults were included in the study. The results showed that existential loneliness was directly predicted by frustration intolerance. As a result of the mediation test, all dimensions of psychological need frustration (autonomy frustration, relatedness frustration, and competence frustration) fully mediated the relationship between frustration intolerance and existential loneliness. The place of these findings in the literature was discussed and some recommendations were made.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.
References
Ahorsu, D. K., Lin, C. Y., Imani, V., Saffari, M., Griffiths, M. D., & Pakpour, A. H. (2020). The fear of COVID-19 scale: Development and initial validation. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00270-8
Bartholomew, K. J., Ntoumanis, N., Ryan, R. M., Bosch, J. A., & Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C. (2011). Self-determination theory and diminished functioning: The role of interpersonal control and psychological need thwarting. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37(11), 1459–1473. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167211413125
Bekhet, A. K., Zauszniewski, J. A., & Nakhla, W. E. (2008). Loneliness: A concept analysis. Nursing Forum (Hillsdale), 43(4), 207–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6198.2008.00114.x
Boone, L., Vansteenkiste, M., Soenens, B., Van der Kaap-Deeder, J., & Verstuyf, J. (2014). Self-critical perfectionism and binge eating symptoms: A longitudinal test of the intervening role of psychological need frustration. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 61(3), 363–373. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036418
Bound Alberti, F. (2018). This “modern epidemic”: Loneliness as an emotion cluster and a neglected subject in the history of emotions. Emotion Review, 10(3), 242–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073918768876
Bruggen, V. V., Vos, J., Westerhof, G. J., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & Glas, G. (2015). Systematic review of existential anxiety instruments. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 55(2), 173–201. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167814542048
Campbell, R., Vansteenkiste, M., Delesie, L., Tobback, E., Mariman, A., Vogelaers, D., & Mouratidis, A. (2018). Reciprocal associations between daily need-based experiences, energy, and sleep in chronic fatigue syndrome. Health Psychology, 37(12), 1168–1178. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000621
Chen, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Beyers, W., Boone, L., Deci, E. L., Van der Kaap-Deeder, J., Lens, W., Matos, L., Mouratidis, A., Ryan, R. M., Sheldon, K. M., Soenens, B., Petegem, S. V., & Verstuyf, J. (2015). Basic psychological need satisfaction, need frustration, and need strength across four cultures. Motivation and Emotion, 39(2), 216–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-014-9450-1
Chung, B. P. M., Olofsson, J., Wong, F. K. Y., & Rämgård, M. (2020). Overcoming existential loneliness: A cross-cultural study. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), 347–347. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01753-y
Constantino, M. J., Sommer, R. K., Goodwin, B. J., Coyne, A. E., & Pinel, E. C. (2019). Existential isolation as a correlate of clinical distress, beliefs about psychotherapy, and experiences with mental health treatment. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 29(4), 389–399. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000172
Davidov, J., Russo-Netzer, P. J. A., & Stress, & Coping. (2021). Exploring the phenomenological structure of existential anxiety as lived through transformative life experiences. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2021.1921162
Davis, H., & Turner, M. J. (2020). The use of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) to increase the self-determined motivation and psychological well-being of triathletes. Sport Exercise and Performance Psychology, 9(4), 489–505. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000191
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Springer.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2008). Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 49(3), 182–185. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012801
DiGiuseppe, R. (2011). Reflection on my 32 years with Albert Ellis. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 29(4), 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-010-0118-9
Dryden, W., & David, D. (2008). Rational emotive behavior therapy: Current status. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 22(3), 195–209. https://doi.org/10.1891/0889-8391.22.3.195
Efstathiou, N. (2013). Self-control and well-being: The moderating roles of frustration intolerance and emotional intensity. (dissertation/thesis), ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Ettema, E. J., Derksen, L. D., & Leeuwen, E. V. (2010). Existential loneliness and end-of-life care: A systematic review. Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics, 31(2), 141–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11017-010-9141-1
Filippello, P., Harrington, N., Buzzai, C., Sorrenti, L., & Costa, S. (2014). The relationship between frustration intolerance, unhealthy emotions, and assertive behaviour in Italian students. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 32(4), 257–278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-014-0193-4
Filippello, P., Harrington, N., Costa, S., Buzzai, C., & Sorrenti, L. (2018). Perceived parental psychological control and school learned helplessness: The role of frustration intolerance as a mediator factor. School Psychology International, 39(4), 360–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034318775140
Funch, B. S. (2021). Art, emotion, and existential well-being. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 41(1), 5–17. https://doi.org/10.1037/teo0000151
George, D., & Mallery, M. (2010). SPSS for windows step by step: A simple guide and reference, 17.0 update (10th ed.). Pearson.
Gökdemir-Bulut, B. P., & Bozo, Ö. (2018). The psychometric validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the existential loneliness questionnaire. Current Psychology, 37(1), 401–413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-016-9534-z
Greening, T. (1992). Existential challenges and responses. The Humanistic Psychologist, 20(1), 111–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/08873267.1992.9986784
Harrington, N. (2005). The frustration discomfort scale: Development and psychometric properties. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 12(5), 374–387. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.465
Harrington, N. (2006). Frustration intolerance beliefs: Their relationship with depression, anxiety, and anger, in a clinical population. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 30(6), 699–709. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-006-9061-6
Harrington, N. (2011). Frustration intolerance: Therapy issues and strategies. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 29(1), 4–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-011-0126-4
Hayes, A. F. (2018). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. Guilford Press, NY, USA.
Heidenreich, T., Noyon, A., Worrell, M., & Menzies, R. (2021). Existential Approaches and Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Challenges and Potential. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 14(1), 209–234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41811-020-00096-1.
Heissel, A., Pietrek, A., Flunger, B., Fydrich, T., Rapp, M. A., Heinzel, S., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2018). The validation of the German basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration scale in the context of mental health. European Journal of Health Psychology, 25(4), 119–132. https://doi.org/10.1027/2512-8442/a000017
Helm, P. J. (2019). Towards a theory of interpersonal isolation: Adding existential isolation to the mix. (Doctoral Dissertation, The University of Arizona). The University of Arizona University Libraries. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/632994. Accessed 4 April 2021.
Heu, L. C., Hansen, N., Van Zomeren, M., Levy, A., Ivanova, T. T., Gangadhar, A., & Radwan, M. J. P. R. (2021). Loneliness across cultures with different levels of social embeddedness: A qualitative study. Personal Relationships, 28(2), 379–405.
Hoffman, L., Vallejos, L., Cleare-Hoffman, H. P., & Rubin, S. (2015). Emotion, relationship, and meaning as core existential practice: Evidence-based foundations. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 45(1), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-014-9277-9
Horney, K. (1992). Our inner conflicts: A constructive theory of neurosis. W W Norton & Co..
James, G., Witten, D., Hastie, T., & Tibshirani, R. (2013). An introduction to statistical learning with applications in R. Springer.
Long, A. E., Pinel, E. C., Daily, J. R., & Costello, A. E. (2021). Existential isolation and the struggle for belief validation. The British Journal of Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12492
Mayers, A. M., & Svartberg, M. (2001). Existential loneliness: A review of the concept, its psychosocial precipitants and psychotherapeutic implications for HIV-infected women. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 74(4), 539–553. https://doi.org/10.1348/000711201161082
Mayers, A. M., Khoo, S. T., & Svartberg, M. (2002). The existential loneliness questionnaire: Background, development, and preliminary findings. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(9), 1183–1193. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10038
Menzies, R. E., Zuccala, M., Sharpe, L., & Dar-Nimrod, I. J. J. o. a. d. (2018). The effects of psychosocial interventions on death anxiety: A meta-analysis and systematic review of randomised controlled trials. 59, 64–73.
Nishimura, T., & Suzuki, T. (2016). Basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration in Japan: Controlling for the big five personality traits. Japanese Psychological Research, 58(4), 320–331. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpr.12131
Oishi, S., & Westgate, E. C. (2021). A psychologically rich life: Beyond happiness and meaning. Psychological Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000317
Park, Y. C., & Pinel, E. C. (2020). Existential isolation and cultural orientation. Personality and Individual Differences, 159, 109891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.109891
Pinel, E. C., Long, A. E., Murdoch, E. Q., & Helm, P. (2017). A prisoner of one's own mind: Identifying and understanding existential isolation. Personality and Individual Differences, 105, 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.09.024
Ruiz-Ortega, A. M., Álvarez, N. S., & Martos, M. P. B. (2021). Chilean validation of the frustration discomfort scale: Relation between intolerance to frustration and discomfort and emotional intelligence. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02135-2
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2006). Self-regulation and the problem of human autonomy: Does psychology need choice, self-determination, and will? Journal of Personality, 74(6), 1557–1586. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2006.00420.x
Ryan, W. S., & Ryan, R. M. (2019). Toward a social psychology of authenticity: Exploring within-person variation in autonomy, congruence, and genuineness using self-determination theory. Review of General Psychology, 23(1), 99–112. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000162
Satici, B., Gocet-Tekin, E., Deniz, M. E., & Satici, S. A. (2020). Adaptation of the fear of COVID-19 scale: Its association with psychological distress and life satisfaction in Turkey. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Advanced publication online. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00294-0
Schmidt, A., Neubauer, A. B., Dirk, J., & Schmiedek, F. (2020). The bright and the dark side of peer relationships: Differential effects of relatedness satisfaction and frustration at school on affective well-being in children’s daily lives. Developmental Psychology, 56(8), 1532–1546. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000997
Selvi, K., & Bozo, Ö. (2020). The dark side of bodybuilding: The role of bodybuilding activities in compensation of frustrated basic psychological needs. Motivation and Emotion, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-019-09805-6
Sköld, A. B., & Roald, T. (2020). An existential structure of love. The Humanistic Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000165
Stanković, S., & Vukosavljević-Gvozden, T. (2011). The relationship of a measure of frustration intolerance with emotional dysfunction in a student sample. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 29(1), 17–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-011-0128-2
Stanković, S., Matić, M., Vukosavljević-Gvozden, T., & Opačić, G. (2015). Frustration intolerance and unconditional self-acceptance as mediators of the relationship between perfectionism and depression. Psihologija, 48(2), 101–117. https://doi.org/10.2298/PSI1502101S
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics (4th ed.). Allyn and Bacon.
Uzun-Ozer, B., Demir, A., & Harrington, N. (2012). Psychometric properties of frustration discomfort scale in a Turkish sample. Psychological Reports, 111(1), 117–128. https://doi.org/10.2466/08.02.18.PR0.111.4.117-128.
van den Bos, K. (2009). Making sense of life: The existential self trying to deal with personal uncertainty. Psychological Inquiry, 20(4), 197–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/10478400903333411
van Tilburg, T. G. (2021). Social, emotional, and existential loneliness: A test of the multidimensional concept. The Gerontologist, 61(7), e335–e344.
Vansteenkiste, M., & Ryan, R. M. (2013). On psychological growth and vulnerability: Basic psychological need satisfaction and need frustration as a unifying principle. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 23(3), 263.
Vansteenkiste, M., Ryan, R. M., & Soenens, B. (2020). Basic psychological need theory: Advancements, critical themes, and future directions. Motivation and Emotion, 44(1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-019-09818-1
Ward, J. J. (2011). "oh, the humanity!": Kurt Vonnegut and rational emotive behavior Therapy's existential rejoinder to the irrationality of the human condition. The Humanistic Psychologist, 39(2), 105–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/08873267.2011.540151
Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. Basic Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical Statement
All procedures conducted were approved by the Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University Scientific Research and Ethical Board (Protocol Number: E.9753, Date: 14.05.2020).
Informed Consent Inform
Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.
Conflict of Interest
It has been reported by the authors that there is no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saricali, M., Guler, D. The mediating role of psychological need frustration on the relationship between frustration intolerance and existential loneliness. Curr Psychol 41, 5603–5611 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02866-w
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02866-w