Relationship Between Basic Psychological Needs and Exercise Motivation in Japanese Adults: An Application of Self‐Determination Theory

The chain mediating effect of emotional regulation ability and exercise persistence on college students' sleep and cardiopulmonary endurance

Cardiopulmonary endurance is a crucial factor affecting cardiovascular health. In recent years, the incidence of metabolic syndrome among university students has been on the rise due to poor cardiopulmonary endurance. Existing studies have shown that high-quality sleep is an important means of improving cardiopulmonary health; however, the mechanism by which sleep influences the cardiopulmonary endurance of university students remains unclear. This study introduces emotional regulation ability and exercise adherence as mediating variables. Using a combination of testing and questionnaire surveys, it explores the relationship between sleep quality and cardiopulmonary endurance in university students and conducts path analysis. The 20-meter shuttle run test (20mSRT) was used to assess cardiopulmonary endurance, and effective scales such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), and the Exercise Adherence Scale (EAS) were employed in the survey. A total of 266 valid questionnaires were collected (validity rate of 96.4%), and the Bootstrap method was applied to conduct chain mediation effect analysis. The results indicate that the proportion of students with good and poor sleep quality were 30.5% and 0.7%, respectively, while 98.9% of students were at high risk in terms of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) for cardiopulmonary endurance. Sleep quality was found to have a low negative correlation with cardiopulmonary endurance (r = -0.033), a significant negative correlation with emotional self-regulation ability (r = -0.281), and a significant low negative correlation with exercise adherence (r = -0.143). Emotional self-regulation ability was moderately positively correlated with exercise adherence (r = 0.499). Mediation effect testing revealed that emotional self-regulation ability and exercise adherence fully mediated the relationship between sleep quality and cardiopulmonary endurance. The total indirect effect was significant, with a total effect of -0.412, a direct effect of -0.184, and an indirect effect of -0.228. In conclusion, the overall sleep quality of university students is relatively good. Higher sleep quality can predict stronger cardiopulmonary endurance, and emotional self-regulation ability and exercise adherence fully mediate the relationship between sleep quality and cardiopulmonary endurance. In other words, sleep quality indirectly enhances cardiopulmonary endurance by improving emotional regulation and exercise adherence, with no direct effect between the two.

The Impact of Exercise Cognition on Exercise Behaviors: The Mediating Role of the Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise for Adolescents

In recent years, the exercise behavior of Chinese adolescents has been on the decline, which is extremely detrimental to their physical and mental health development. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms by which exercise cognition influences Chinese adolescents' exercise behavior. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between exercise cognition and exercise behavior among Chinese adolescents and the mediating role of satisfying basic psychological needs for exercise. The study consisted of 996 adolescents (44.6% males, 55.4% females) between the ages of 12 and 15 (M = 13.34, SD = 1.059). Participants' exercise behaviors and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs for exercise data were collected via surveys. Structure equation modeling (SEM) was performed to examine the direct and indirect effects. The results were as follows: (1) adolescents' perceptions of exercise were significantly associated with exercise behavior and (2) the mediation model suggests that the satisfaction of basic psychological needs for exercise is an important mechanism by which exercise cognition influences the occurrence of exercise behavior. Therefore, it is crucial to help adolescents form good exercise cognition. Schools, families, and society should take responsibility for adolescents' formation of good exercise cognition and satisfy adolescents' basic psychological needs for exercise so as to enhance adolescents' exercise behaviors and thereby develop good exercise habits.

The influence of psychological needs and motivation on game cheating: insights from self-determination theory

Introduction

Game cheating (i.e., behavior of violating rules in games by using unregulated Software or assistive devices to gain advantage) poses a fatal problem as it destroys fair competition systems and negatively impacts the game ecosystem. Game cheating is reported to be common in competitive online games because they stimulate strongly a user's motivation and psychological needs. However, there is still in lack of academic research which focused on the issue from the psycho-social perspective.

Methods

This study investigated the relationships between basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and motivation (i.e., intrinsic and extrinsic) based on self-determination theory, and examined their effects on the degree of game cheating with survey data of 322 gamers in a competitive online gaming community.

Results

The results showed the opposite associations between the two forms of motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic) and game cheating. On one hand, extrinsic motivation decreased by autonomy enhanced the degree of game cheating. On the other hand, intrinsic motivation increased by both autonomy and relatedness finally abated game cheating. Competence did not influence any form of motivation. The results indicated that people motivated by interest or enjoyment (i.e., intrinsic motivation) of the game tend to view game cheating negatively while those motivated by game victory and rewards are likely to have positive attitudes toward game cheating. Increasing the degree of user autonomy and social relations in the game could decrease game cheating through the enhancement of intrinsic motivation.

Discussion

Digital game cheating is a crucial problem threatening the spread of game culture and the growth of the eSports industry. The findings of this study reveal the influence of psychological needs and intrinsic motivation related to 'game cheating,' providing valuable guidelines in educational and policy aspects.

High-School Students’ Continuous Engagement in Taekwondo Activity

Abstract: Background: Previous research has not investigated why and how adolescents decide to continuously engage in Taekwondo activity, which, based on self-determination theory, has positive effects on diverse (physical, psychological, social) aspects. This study examines the structural relationship between three psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness), intrinsic motivation, and intentions for Taekwondo activity continuity among high-school students participating in Taekwondo training programs. Methods: High-school students (130 males, 110 females) representing multiple nationalities participated in Taekwondo lessons for one session. During the last session class, they completed three questionnaires, and the collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: The results revealed that the satisfaction of three psychological needs was positively and directly associated with intrinsic motivation at a statistically significant level. Additionally, intrinsic motivation directly and positively contributed to intentions for Taekwondo activity continuity and mediated the relationship between the satisfaction of psychological needs and intentions to continue Taekwondo at levels of statistical significance. Discussion: The findings indicate that, if high-school students meet three psychological needs during Taekwondo classes, they are likely to internalize positive feelings such as interest, enjoyment, and satisfaction. Further, intrinsically motivated students would be highly willing to continually engage in Taekwondo activity.

Does Compulsory Citizenship Behavior Necessarily Reduce Employee’s Work Well-Being? The Role of Relative Deprivation and Resource Compensation Based on Compulsory Citizenship Behavior

Purpose

On the basis of previous research results, the opinion that compulsory citizenship behavior (CCB) leads to negative impacts over employees and organizations prevails. However, the latest researches negate the absence of rewards and favorable evaluation from organizational system for CCB. Instead, CCB is likely to be awarded by incentive allocation and recognitive affirmation. In the case of the resource compensation based on CCB, will the expected utility of CCB still show the consistence with the traditional CCB researches, imposing negative effects over employees and organizations?

Methods

This research explored the mechanism and boundary condition based on self-determination theory (SDT) and relative deprivation theory (RDT) to avert the negative effects of CCB, hoping to explain the above question. Time-lagged survey data from 227 employees tested the moderated mediation model, and the results verified the hypotheses.

Results

With resource compensation after the delivery of CCB, employees will not feel relative deprivation caused by reluctant false citizenship behaviors. In addition, relative deprivation expresses the gap between expectation and reality, low psychological discrepancy will not deeply undermine employees’ work well-being.