ogical effect on the individual ([@B71]; [@B101]). Organismic Integration Theory (OIT) details the different forms of extrinsic motivation, and the contextual or social forces which may support or impede the individual's capacity to internalize and integrate the regulation of these behaviors ([@B95]; [@B101]). Goal Contents Theory (GCT) distinguishes between extrinsic and intrinsic goals and examines their effect on behavior and well-being. While extrinsic goals focus on interpersonal comparison and other people's reactions, intrinsic goals are more associated with satisfaction of basic psychological needs and greater psychological well-being. Relationships Motivation Theory (RMT) broadens the scope of relatedness as a basic psychological need, explaining that satisfaction of the need for relatedness is determined by the quality of the relationship and the mutuality of perceived autonomy and autonomy support between partners ([@B31]).

The last of these mini-theories, and the one on which this study is based, is Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT), which postulates competence, autonomy and relatedness as innate, universal and essential needs upon whose satisfaction our health and well-being depend. Competence refers to the ability to perform tasks of varying complexity, and is positively associated with the ability to regulate stress, self-esteem and well-being; low competence is associated with depression, anxiety and low self-esteem ([@B78]). Autonomy refers to the feeling that the locus of causality for the things one does is internal: that one's actions are one's own and not due to external factors ([@B96]). Perception of autonomy is a positive predictor of satisfaction of both competence and relatedness, which in turn is a positive predictor of self-determined motivation ([@B20]; [@B100]). Relatedness is the extent to which a person feels securely part of a group or connected with others within his or her social context. Basic psychological needs are considered necessary to mediate intrinsic and extrinsi