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We know this much is (meta-analytically) true: A meta-review of meta-analytic findings evaluating self-determination theory
Abstract
Self-determination theory (SDT) is a theoretical framework for addressing human motivation and wellness that has been actively and increasingly researched over four decades. As a cumulative knowledge base, many of SDT’s fundamental tenets have been repeatedly examined. We identified 60 meta-analyses that tested many of the propositions of SDT’s six mini-theories, other theory-based hypotheses, and SDT’s utility in applied domains. In this review we examine what these meta-analyses establish, highlighting the support they lend to the validity of SDT’s motivational taxonomy and its hypotheses regarding the respective effects of basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration on well-being and ill-being. Meta-analytic evidence also strongly supports the relevance of SDT for organizations, health care, parenting, and education among other domains, with identifiable gaps in the meta-analytic literature. We conclude by discussing the importance of broad theory and the use of meta-analytic knowledge as scaffolding for further theory and research, albeit with its own methodological limitations.
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“Self-determination theory (SDT) is a theory of motivation that posits individuals are motivated in the most sustainable and healthy ways when they experience optimal levels of autonomy, competence and relatedness.21”
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Theorizing subjective responsibility at work: an agentic approach
Jønsson, T., & Fasano, M. C. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1548931 · Cited by 4
Audet, É. C., Moore, A. M., Fang, X., & Koestner, R. (2025) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2025.113369 · Cited by 6
Bureau, J. S., Gilbert, W., & Guay, F. (2025) · Learning and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2025.102839 · Cited by 4
The Dynamics and Complexities of Return‐to‐Office Policies
Cascio, W. F. (2025) · Human Resource Management · doi:10.1002/hrm.70041 · Cited by 9
Marsh, H. W., Ryan, R. M., Dicke, T., Pekrun, R. H., Guo, J., Bradshaw, E. L., Reeve, J., Lüdtke, O., Clarke, T., & Waterschoot, J. (2025) · Educational Psychology Review · doi:10.1007/s10648-025-10079-3 · Cited by 6
“…are not endpoints of a single continuum: low satisfaction is not the same as high frustration, and each shows differential associations with outcomes—an observation supported by accumulating evidence, including meta-analytic reviews (Deci & Ryan, 2000; Ryan & Deci, 2000; Ryan et al., 2022).”
Self-citationLiu, Y., Cheng, Z.-Y., Tao, J., Liang, Y.-Q., Zhang, Y., Wang, J., Dai, Z.-T., Yue, Y.-R., Zhou, C., Chen, L., et al. (2025) · BMC Nursing · doi:10.1186/s12912-025-04235-x · Cited by 6
“In an environment characterized by widespread academic and employment pressure, learning motivation stemming from intrinsic beliefs and clear goals is more stable and sustainable than that driven by external evaluations [64].”
Klose, M., Handschuh, P., Steger, D., & Artelt, C. (2024) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2024.108322 · Cited by 7
Kiamouri, A., Angeli, M., Κrommidas, C., Digelidis, N. M., & Καρατράντου, Κ. (2024) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs14080681 · Cited by 7
Islam, A., & Ajmal, M. (2024) · Journal of Organizational Effectiveness People and Performance · doi:10.1108/joepp-06-2024-0291 · Cited by 4
Cultural Influence on Planned Alcohol Consumption: A Chinese Perspective on Self-View
Pan, W., Liu, Y., & Li, S. (2025) · Health Communication · doi:10.1080/10410236.2025.2505970 · Cited by 4
“Competition and self-determination are often context-specific and primarily related to achievement in personal and professional domains (Ryan et al., 2022).”
Goffredi, R., & Sheldon, K. M. (2024) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2024.104510 · Cited by 5
“A small-to-medium effect size was used in line with previous meta -analytic findings on the effects of narrative themes and psychological need satisfaction on well-being (Adler et al., 2016; Ryan et al., 2022).”
Social Support Congruence Among Team Members: A Cubic Response Surface Analysis
Berg, A.-K., Schulte, E.-M., & Kauffeld, S. (2024) · Small Group Research · doi:10.1177/10464964241298605 · Cited by 4
“Consequently, we argue that verbal behaviors during meetings serve as antecedents to perceived support congruence (Ryan et al., 2022; van den Broeck et al., 2016).”
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic context on work motivation: a two-wave study
Pereira, S. A., dos Santos, N. R., Pais, L., & Pereira, M. (2025) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-024-07263-z · Cited by 5
“Fulfilling these basic psy - chological needs is crucial to promoting healthy motivation, integrative functioning and the pursuit of goals (Ryan et al., 2022 ).”
Mendoza, N. B., Zadorozhnyy, A., & Dizon, J. I. W. T. (2025) · British Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjep.12752 · Cited by 6
Metadata
- Authors
- Ryan, R. M., Duineveld, J. J., Di Domenico, S. I., Ryan, W. S., Steward, B. A., & Bradshaw, E. L.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 2022-11
- Volume
- 148
- Issue
- 11-12
- Pages
- 813-842
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W4327660578
- Cited by
- 378
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 151 · 2025: 133 · 2024: 73 · 2023: 19
- FWCI
- 47.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
- Keywords
- self-determination theory, meta-review, evidence synthesis, motivation, autonomy, competence, relatedness
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