What is it about?
This research looks at how vocational students in Aruba are doing emotionally and mentally. The authors focus on three key psychological needs that all people have: Autonomy – feeling like you have control over your life and choices; Competence – feeling capable and successful at what you do; Relatedness – feeling connected to and supported by others. When these needs are met, people tend to feel happier, more motivated, and more focused in school or work. The authors also explored other needs that are more context specific and how environments stimulate the satisfaction of these needs. It was concluded that while the three needs are relevant in Aruba, their expression is shaped by local cultural values, such as family interconnectedness and community orientation.
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Why is it important?
This study is important because it shows that while children everywhere need autonomy, competence, and relatedness to thrive, how these needs are met—and what they look like in daily life—can differ across cultures. Since most psychological theories are developed in Western countries, they often lack the cultural nuance needed to apply them effectively in non-Western contexts. By understanding how these needs are fulfilled in Aruba, parents, educators, and policymakers can create environments that better support children’s development. This can lead to improved mental wellbeing, stronger individual support systems, and more resilient communities.
Perspectives
I hope this publication is seen as an insightful piece that helps scholars better understand the challenges faced by non-Western communities due to the lack of culturally relevant research. In academia, we often claim to possess a wealth of knowledge, yet much of it remains disconnected from practice. By adopting more context-specific, mixed-methods approaches—as this study does—we can generate richer, more meaningful insights. These insights have the potential to drive practical change within a country, making research not just informative, but truly transformative.
Maria-Liz Proveyer Llopiz
University of Aruba
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Psychological needs and well-being through the eyes of vocational students in Aruba, Dutch Caribbean., Developmental Psychology, May 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/dev0001971.
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