Emerging adulthood, typically defined as the period between ages 18 and 25, is characterized by intense emotional experiences. Transitions such as starting university, entering the workforce, navigating romantic relationships, and moving toward independence from family often generate heightened levels of stress and anxiety. Understanding how young people can effectively regulate and reshape these emotions is therefore a pressing question for developmental and clinical research.
The present study, conducted by Selin Türkmen, Assistant Prof. Aylin Koçak, Dilay Aslan, and Tuğçe Çetin, addressed this issue within the framework of Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). Specifically, the study examined the relationship between basic psychological need satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and emotion crafting, a relatively new construct in the field of emotion regulation.
What is Emotion Crafting?
Emotion crafting (Van der Kaap-Deeder et al., 2023; Turkish adaptation: Güldeste et al., 2023) refers to proactive strategies aimed not only at reducing negative emotions but also at deliberately fostering positive ones. Examples include meeting with a friend after a difficult day, listening to music, or engaging in sports. Emotion crafting is conceptualized as a two-dimensional process:
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Awareness: Recognizing one’s emotional states.
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Action: Engaging in behaviors that actively enhance positive affect.
Basic Psychological Needs
According to Self-Determination Theory, optimal psychological functioning depends on the satisfaction of three universal needs:
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Autonomy: Experiencing a sense of volition and self-endorsement in one’s actions.
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Competence: Feeling effective and capable in one’s activities.
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Relatedness: Experiencing meaningful and supportive connections with others.
In this study, the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale (Koçak et al., 2025) was employed alongside the Emotion Crafting Scale to assess these constructs.
Method and Findings
Participants consisted of 122 emerging adults (aged 18–22), primarily university students, who completed online self-report questionnaires.
Correlational analyses revealed that:
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Basic need satisfaction was positively associated with action-oriented emotion crafting (r = .367, p < .001).
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Basic need satisfaction was also positively, but more weakly, associated with awareness (r = .284, p = .002).
Regression analyses further demonstrated that:
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Basic need satisfaction significantly predicted action (β = 0.504, p < .001).
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However, awareness was not significantly predicted by need satisfaction (p = .171).
Taken together, these results suggest that while fulfilling psychological needs encourages young adults to take proactive steps to increase positive emotions, it does not necessarily enhance their capacity to recognize emotions in the first place.
Consider two students who receive a poor exam grade. One, whose autonomy is undermined, who feels ineffective, and who lacks supportive relationships, may respond with anger and struggle to recover emotionally. In contrast, another student, who feels supported by family, experiences self-determination, and maintains strong peer relationships, may respond by acknowledging the disappointment but choosing to exercise or study again as a constructive coping strategy. Our findings align with and help explain such differences.
Implications
The findings highlight the critical role of psychological need satisfaction in fostering adaptive emotional responses during emerging adulthood. Autonomy, competence, and relatedness provide the foundation for action-oriented emotion crafting, enabling individuals to transform negative experiences into opportunities for growth. However, the independence of the awareness dimension underscores the potential value of mindfulness-based interventions, psychoeducation, or attentional training, which may cultivate greater emotional awareness beyond the influence of basic need satisfaction.
Conclusion
This study underscores that effectively coping with the emotional turbulence of emerging adulthood requires more than willpower. Rather, it depends on the broader social and psychological conditions that support basic needs. By demonstrating that need satisfaction predicts action-oriented emotion crafting, the research contributes to both theoretical extensions of Self-Determination Theory and practical insights for enhancing well-being.
In sum, emerging adulthood is both a vulnerable and opportunity-rich period. When young people experience autonomy, competence, and relatedness, they are more likely to engage in constructive emotion crafting strategies, thereby promoting resilience, healthier relationships, and academic success.