The levels of satisfaction of the core self-determination needs (relatedness, autonomy and competence) among HIV-infected women of color as well as the association between need fulfillment and patient characteristics were examined. Having less than a high-school education was associated with lowest need satisfaction: autonomy (β = −1.90; 95%CI = −3.20, −0.60), relatedness (β = −2.70; 95%CI = −4.30, −1.10) and competency (β = −2.50; 95%CI = −3.60, −1.30). Each additional point increase in affective symptoms of depression was associated with decrements in need satisfaction (−.61 autonomy, −.68 relatedness and −.59 competency). Relatedness satisfaction was lower with higher responses on all three measures of violence (psychological abuse: β = −0.13, 95%CI = −0.19 to −0.07; adult traumatic experiences: β = −0.24, 95%CI = −0.35 to −0.13 and childhood traumatic experiences: β = −0.24, 95%CI = −0.40 to −0.08). Interventions that address core self-determination needs, and the characteristics that influence them, may enhance the motivation for self-care of HIV-infected women.