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Bidirectional relationship between autonomy need satisfaction and "lying flat" among Chinese youth.
Huanhua Lu1, Jinli Wang1, Feng Kong2
1School of Marxism, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China.
Australian Journal of Psychology
|September 22, 2025
Summary
Young people's "lying flat" behavior does not fulfill autonomy needs. Research shows a negative relationship between autonomy need satisfaction and "lying flat," challenging common beliefs.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- China's competitive social environment leads young people to perceive "involution" as undermining autonomy.
- Some assert that "lying flat" is an autonomy-restoring strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically investigate whether unmet autonomy needs drive "lying flat" behavior.
- To determine if "lying flat" genuinely fulfills individuals' autonomy needs.
Main Methods:
- A large-sample questionnaire survey (Study 1) was conducted.
- A longitudinal follow-up study (Study 2) was employed.
- The relationship between autonomy need satisfaction and "lying flat" was examined.
Main Results:
- Study 1 revealed a significant negative correlation between autonomy need satisfaction and "lying flat".
- Cross-lagged analysis in Study 2 showed autonomy need satisfaction negatively predicted "lying flat" after one month.
- Conversely, "lying flat" also negatively predicted autonomy need satisfaction after one month.
Conclusions:
- A bidirectional negative predictive relationship exists between autonomy need satisfaction and "lying flat".
- These findings challenge the popular notion that "lying flat" satisfies autonomy needs.
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