Nazina E.D., Drozdov D.D., Belosludtseva D.D. Narrative Coherence and Well-being: Basic Psychological Needs as a Mediator

Studying the factors of psychological well-being is one of the key tasks of psychology. The vast majority of psychological well-being studies rely on self-report data. However, there are phenomena that make a significant contribution to psychological health that cannot be investigated using these methods. One of these phenomena is narrative identity. Narrative coherence refers to the structural features of narrative identity, which are less studied in the context of well-being. Despite some evidence of a connection between narrative coherence and psychological health, due to the contradictory results of empirical studies, the question of the mechanisms of this connection still remains open.

The purpose of this study was to explore the potential mechanisms of connection between narrative coherence and psychological well-being.

The study sample consisted of 290 people (54% women, M = 38.9, SD = 13.1). The following methods were used: Brief Inventory of Thriving, Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs, Extra-short Form of the Big Five Inventory-2, Index of Autonomous Functioning. Narrative coherence variables were measured using coding manuals by writers who were not familiar with the hypotheses of the study. Correlation analysis, moderation analysis, and mediation analysis using a general linear model were used to statistically test hypotheses. Multiple regression was used to verify the incremental validity.

Evidence of incremental validity of narrative coherence as an indicator of well-being was obtained. In agreement with previous studies, the variable of identity content moderated the relationship between narrative coherence and psychological well-being. In addition, a new mediator of the connection between narrative coherence and psychological well-being was discovered: frustration of the need for competence.

The research expands the theoretical understanding of the mechanisms of connection between narrative coherence and psychological well-being.

Key words: narrative identity, narrative coherence, psychological well-being, identity content, basic psychological needs

For citation: Nazina, E., Drozdov, D., Belosludtseva, D. (2025). Narrative Coherence and Well-being: Basic Psychological Needs as a Mediator. New Psychological Research, No. 4, 196–217. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2025_05_04_10

Acknowledgment

The publication was prepared within the framework of the Academic Fund Program at HSE University (grant № 24–00–046 “Evidence-based approach to personality development: opportunities and limitations”).