Friendship, needs satisfaction, and happiness among college students in france and lebanon

Decades of research leave no doubt that friendship is a consistent correlate of happiness across cultures. Yet, less is known about the mediators of this association. The current study tested the role of satisfaction of basic psychosocial needs in same-sex best friendships as the mediator of the friendship quality-happiness association among college students in France (n = 259) and Lebanon (n = 191). It was proposed that friendship experiences provide a context in which one’s basic psychological needs are met, which in turn is associated with happiness. The model was supported in both countries, highlighting the robustness of the findings. Directions for future that could enhance our understanding of the friendship-happiness association in different cultures were presented.