Students’ Strengths Use and Engagement: Exploring the Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs

With the rise of positive psychology, the focus on individuals’ strengths has become an innovative paradigm for enhancing both wellbeing and performance. While extensive research has demonstrated the positive effect of strengths use on work engagement, less is known about its impact on students’ engagement and the psychological mechanisms underlying the effect of strengths use. This study examines the relationship between strengths use and engagement among university students, with a focus on the mediating role of Basic Psychological Needs (BPN). A sample of 57 participants, including both undergraduate and postgraduate students, completed online questionnaires assessing their strengths use, engagement, and BPN satisfaction. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) mediation analysis. Results indicated a significantly positive relationship between strengths use and engagement, with BPN fulfilment fully mediating this relationship. This suggests that strengths use enhances students’ engagement through the satisfaction of BPN. These results contribute to the literature by providing evidence for the mediating role of BPN and have significant implications for educational strategies aimed at enhancing students’ engagement. The study recommends that future research replicates these findings across diverse demographics and educational settings.