Need for Relatedness Scale (NRS-10)

Abstract

The Need for Relatedness Scale (NRS-10), developed by Richer and Vallerand (1996), is a concise, 10-item psychometric instrument designed to measure the perceived satisfaction of the fundamental psychological need for relatedness within specific social contexts, most frequently the workplace. Grounded theoretically in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the scale assesses the subjective experience of feeling connected, secure, and genuinely belonging to others. The NRS-10 is composed of two distinct, yet correlated, dimensions: Acceptance (feeling supported and valued) and Intimacy (feeling close and bonded), offering a reliable and valid measure of social integration and closeness.

Keywords

Need for Relatedness Scale, NRS-10, Richer, Vallerand, Self-Determination Theory, SDT, Basic Psychological Needs, Relatedness, Workplace Psychology, Acceptance, Intimacy, ESAS, Perceived Relatedness.

Authors

Stéphane Richer, Robert J. Vallerand.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the NRS-10 is to operationalize and measure the degree to which an individual’s basic psychological need for relatedness is satisfied. Within the framework of Self-Determination Theory, the satisfaction of this need is crucial for promoting intrinsic motivation, psychological growth, and overall well-being. The scale allows researchers and practitioners to quantify the extent to which individuals feel supported, valued, and genuinely connected to their social environment, such as colleagues, peers, or team members.

By using the two-factor structure (Acceptance and Intimacy), the NRS-10 provides a detailed assessment of the quality of social relationships, distinguishing between the feeling of being included and the feeling of emotional closeness. This makes it a valuable tool for studying motivational processes, organizational climate, and interpersonal dynamics across various applied settings.

Construct

The NRS-10 measures the perceived satisfaction of the need for relatedness, which is defined as the innate human desire to feel connected to others, to care for others, and to feel cared for by those who are important to oneself. This construct is one of the three universal basic psychological needs identified by Deci and Ryan in SDT (alongside autonomy and competence).

The scale captures this construct through two empirically supported sub-dimensions: Acceptance, which encompasses feelings of being supported, understood, listened to, valued, and safe (reflected in odd-numbered items 1, 3, 5, 7, 9); and Intimacy, which reflects the emotional depth of the relationship, including feelings of being close, attached, bonded, close-knit, and viewed as a friend (reflected in even-numbered items 2, 4, 6, 8, 10). These dimensions together capture the comprehensive experience of social belonging and emotional connection.

Validity

The psychometric validation of the scale, originally published in French as the Échelle du sentiment d’appartenance sociale (ESAS), has demonstrated robust validity evidence. Construct validity is supported by its strong theoretical grounding in SDT, showing predictable correlations with other motivational and well-being outcomes. For instance, higher scores on the NRS-10 are typically associated with higher levels of intrinsic motivation and greater general life satisfaction.

Furthermore, structural validity is consistently confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis, which validates the hypothesized two-factor model (Acceptance and Intimacy). This structure confirms that the scale items adequately represent the intended theoretical sub-components of relatedness satisfaction, distinguishing it from broader concepts like general social support.

Reliability

The NRS-10 exhibits strong internal consistency across various populations and contexts. Studies consistently report high reliability estimates, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the overall 10-item scale generally exceeding the acceptable threshold of 0.80. This indicates that the items reliably measure a unified underlying construct of relatedness satisfaction.

Reliability is also confirmed at the subscale level. Both the Acceptance subscale and the Intimacy subscale demonstrate high internal consistency, assuring researchers that the items within each dimension cohere well and accurately capture their respective facets of perceived relatedness.

Factor Analysis

The foundational research by Richer and Vallerand (1998) utilized factor analysis during the scale construction process to establish the structural integrity of the instrument. This analysis consistently revealed a clear, two-factor structure, which aligns perfectly with the conceptual distinction between the emotional components of relatedness.

The two factors identified are Acceptance, encompassing the feelings of security and validation derived from the social group, and Intimacy, encompassing the feelings of emotional closeness and personal bonding. The successful differentiation of these two factors in the factor analytic results provides strong empirical support for the theoretical model underlying the NRS-10.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire designed to measure the satisfaction of basic psychological needs.

Format: 10 items scored on a 7-point Likert scale.

Language Available: French (ESAS) and validated English versions are widely available.

Population Group: General population, frequently applied in organizational psychology, educational psychology, and sport psychology research.

Age Group: Typically used with adult and adolescent populations (e.g., college students, working professionals).

Population Details: The scale is context-specific, requiring respondents to rate their feelings regarding a defined group, such as “work colleagues” or “teammates.”

Test Methodology: Respondents rate their level of agreement, ranging from 1 (Do not agree at all) to 7 (Very Strongly Agree), with statements describing their feelings toward the target group. Total scores and subscale scores are typically calculated by averaging the responses of the relevant items.

Keywords

Perceived Relatedness, Social Belonging, Work Climate, Intrinsic Motivation, SDT, Two-Factor Model, Psychological Well-being, Richer & Vallerand, ESAS, Organizational Psychology.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not provided in source. (N/A)

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in source. (N/A)

Correspondence Address: Information not provided in source. (N/A)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Need for Relatedness Scale (NRS-10) was first presented in 1995 and formally published in 1998 (Richer & Vallerand). As an academic scale rooted in SDT, it is generally available for use in non-commercial research, provided the original authors are properly cited. Researchers should verify the specific requirements for commercial or large-scale applications.

The original instrument documentation, including the English version, can be found online. The original instrument document can be downloaded here: http://www.lrcs.uqam.ca/scales/esas_en.doc

Reference’s

Richer, S., & Vallerand, R.J. (1995). Construction et validation de l’Échelle du sentiment d’appartenance sociale en milieu de travail. Communication présentée lors du congrès annuel de la SQRP, Ottawa, ON, 27-29 octobre.

Richer, S.F., & Vallerand, R.J. (1998). Construction et validation de l’Échelle du sentiment d’appartenance sociale. Revue européenne de psychologie appliquée, 48, 129-137.

Richer, S.F., & Vallerand, R.J. (1998) Construction and validation of the perceived relatedness scale (ESAS). European Review of Applied Psychology, 48, 129–137.

Hollembeak, J., & Amorose, A.J. (2005) Perceived coaching behaviours and college athletes’ intrinsic motivation: a test of self-determination theory. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 17, 20-36.

Items of the Need for Relatedness Scale (NRS-10)

In my relationships with my work colleagues, I feel …

1. … supported.
2. … close to them.
3. … understood.
4. … attached to them.
5. … listened to.
6. … bonded to them.
7. … valued.
8. … close-knit.
9. … safe.
10. … as a friend.

Response Scale: 1= Do not agree at all, 2= Very Slightly agree, 3= Slightly agree, 4= Moderately Agree, 5= agree, 6= Strongly agree, 7=Very Strongly Agree

Subscale Scoring:

• Acceptance: Items 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
• Intimacy: Items 2, 4, 6, 8, 10