A self-determination theory approach to evaluating indoor environment satisfaction through building interfaces

Occupant satisfaction in office buildings is commonly assessed through physical comfort parameters, while psychological needs remain underexplored. This study applies self-determination theory to examine how perceived autonomy, competence, and relatedness influence satisfaction with the indoor environment. A questionnaire survey was administered across 12 office buildings in the Netherlands, resulting in 366 complete responses. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that autonomy and competence were significantly associated with overall satisfaction, whereas relatedness showed weaker relationships. Variations in satisfaction across buildings were linked to differences in system performance, interface accessibility, and perceived support. These findings suggest that addressing psychological needs, particularly control and understanding, is strongly associated with higher levels of occupant satisfaction in indoor environments.