The basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration, and emotional well-being of young at-risk and non-at-risk students in Singapore

Students who are considered at-risk are usually described as having high probability to experience educational failure. They tend to slip far behind their peers, which may eventually lead to dropping out of school. These students tend to come from low-socioeconomic backgrounds or experience low parental involvement in the educational process and life in general. These students are likely to have family problems and personal issues resulting in poor academic performance and low well-being. This study underscores the importance of supporting the healthy development of children. In promoting children’s well-being, we draw on the Basic Psychological Need Theory, which is one of the six mini-theories within Self-Determination Theory. The Basic Psychological Need Theory postulates that competence, autonomy, and relatedness are essential needs, which when supported, is likely to result in adaptive outcomes, such as high well-being. In contrast, the frustration of these needs represents threatening experiences that may reduce well-being. This study aims to compare the emotional well-being, as well as the basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration of at-risk primary school students, with their peers identified as non-at-risk. The results of the study will be useful in raising awareness of the similarities and differences between these groups of students in terms of their basic psychological needs and emotional well-being, so that school programs can be tailored to meet student needs more effectively.