Unhappy or Unsatisfied: Distinguishing the Role of Negative Affect and Need Frustration on Depression over the Academic Year and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Are negative affect and basic psychological need frustration antecedents or concomitants of depression? Students (N_study1=379; N_study2=235) completed measures over a year and the pandemic. Fully cross-lagged models were used. Need frustration predicted negative affect and depression over time. These results highlight the relative importance of need frustration in predicting depression.