The Reality of the Psychological Needs of Women Working in Higher Education Institutions in the Light of Some Demographic Variables

Abstract

The current research aimed to identify the reality of the psychological needs of women working in Palestinian universities. The study also aimed to identify the differences in psychological needs, experience, marital status, and the nature of work (academic/administrative), the basic research sample of (96) women working in higher education institutions, aged (35-50) years with an average age (40.31) the researcher took into account that they were distributed on the academic/administrative), marital status. The researcher used a psychological needs scale prepared by the researcher, which includes dimensions such as security, love, self-esteem, physiological needs, knowledge, aesthetic needs, and self-actualization. The psychometric characteristics of the instrument were verified in terms of validity and reliability. Although the study is theoretically informed by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the measurement instrument was developed based on a broader conceptualization of psychological needs. Therefore, SDT is employed as an interpretive analytical framework rather than a direct operational model for measurement. The researcher relied on the descriptive approach and the data were analysed using the T Test, correlation coefficients. The results also showed that there are differences in the dimensions of psychological needs in the direction of married women, as well as according to the nature of work in Favor of academic work. The results were interpreted in light of the results of previous research and studies, as well as commenting on the limitations of the current research results. The research ended with the presentation of a set of recommendations and proposals for subsequent studies.