Living Authentically in the Face of Death: Predictors of Autonomous Motivation Among Individuals Exposed to Chronic Mortality Cues Compared to a Matched Community Sample

Despite research demonstrating positive outcomes of conscious death reflection, very little research directly examines a core proposition of existential psychologists-that death reflection provides an opportunity for more authentic living. The current study compared individuals chronically exposed to genuine mortality cues (funeral/cemetery workers, n = 107) to a matched control sample (n = 121) on autonomous motivation. It also assessed the moderating role of six constructs implicated in growth-oriented processing of death reflection: psychological flexibility, curiosity, neutral death acceptance, death anxiety, approach-oriented coping, and avoidant coping. Funeral/cemetery workers were significantly higher on autonomous motivation, and death-related work was found to have a more positive association with autonomous motivation for those higher on flexibility and lower on death anxiety. This has implications for both understanding which individuals are most likely to experience growth motivations when confronting death, and potential avenues for facilitating these motivations to enhance well-being.

Thank You for Changing: Gratitude Promotes Autonomous Motivation and Successful Partner Regulation

Romantic partners often attempt to improve their relationship by changing each other's traits and behaviors, but such partner regulation is often unsuccessful. We examined whether gratitude expressed by agents (i.e., partners requesting change) facilitates greater regulation success from targets (i.e., partners making change) by encouraging targets' autonomous motivation. Across studies, including observational (Study 1, N = 111 couples), preregistered longitudinal (Study 2, N = 150 couples), and experimental (Study 3a, N = 431; Study 3b, N = 725) designs, agents' gratitude for targets' efforts was linked to greater targets'-and less consistently agents'-reported regulation success. These effects were consistently mediated by greater target autonomous motivation, and generally persisted when accounting for how agents communicated their change request and other positive responses to targets' efforts (e.g., positivity and support). Gratitude for targets' efforts appears to be an important tool for promoting change success.

Can't see the forest for the trees: Time poverty influences construal level and the moderating role of autonomous versus controlled motivation

In today's fast-paced world, increasing numbers of individuals face time poverty, i.e., having too much to do and not enough time. The current research conducted six studies (total valid N = 1307) examining whether time poverty influences individuals' construal levels and the moderating role of individuals' motivations towards what they do. The results consistently suggest that time poverty leads individuals to adopt more concrete construal regardless of whether time poverty was measured (Study 1) or manipulated either by a scenario (Studies 2a, 3-5) or by a recall task (Study 2b). Concrete construal prioritizes the "how" over the "why" aspect of actions (Studies 1 and 2a) and emphasizes secondary rather than primary features of options (Studies 2b, 3-5). Meanwhile, the results supported the moderating role of motivations (Studies 3-5). Specifically, compared with those experiencing time poverty due to too many things they "have-to" do (controlled motivation), those experiencing time poverty because of too many things they "want-to" do (autonomous motivation) demonstrated weaker tendencies towards adopting concrete construal. Taken together, our findings contribute to the growing literature on how the chronic perception of time poverty shapes the way people feel, think and do.

Integrating the theory of planned behavior and the self-determination theory to promote Mediterranean diet adherence: A randomized controlled trial

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is one of the healthiest and most sustainable food regimes. Nevertheless, MD diffusion is still limited, emphasizing the need to understand the psychosocial factors that could predict and promote its adoption. Starting from an integrated model of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the present randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of manipulating motivation (autonomous vs. controlled) on intention and MD adherence behavior. Participants included 726 Italian adults randomly allocated to one of three conditions: autonomous motivation manipulation, controlled motivation manipulation, and control group. TPB variables were measured immediately after manipulation (T1), while MD adherence was evaluated 2 weeks later (T2). Results from multivariate analyses of variance highlighted that participants in the autonomous motivation condition reported higher intention and a more favorable cognitive attitude than control group participants. However, no change in behavior was found. Moreover, a path analysis with mediation effect showed that the impact of autonomous motivation condition versus control group on intention was mediated by cognitive attitude. Findings support the integration of TPB and SDT to encourage intention to adhere to the MD, also suggesting that prompting autonomous motivation may help to promote a greater diffusion of this healthy and sustainable dietary pattern.

Motivational Influences on Health, Well-Being, and Lifestyle: Validation of the Spanish Version of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire in Four Health Domains

BACKGROUND

Motivation is a central concept in self-determination theory (SDT). The Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ), which assesses motivation (autonomous, controlled, etc.), has been widely used. However, less is known about its applicability to samples such as college students, who may be at risk of having unhealthy behavior in many areas (including smoking, poor dietary habits, alcohol, or tobacco consumption). As this population is transitioning to adulthood, research is needed to understand motivation and changing health patterns. In addition, the lack of instruments for this population in Spain has made the measurement validation process a priority. The purpose of this psychometric study was to adapt the TSRQ to Spanish college students and to examine its structural and validity across four health domains.

METHODS

Two samples of Spanish college students (n = 347 and n = 244) agreed to participate in the study. Participants completed a booklet containing measures of motivation, well-being, general health, anxiety, depression, and lifestyle.

RESULTS

CFA supported a five-dimensional structure in each domain. Reliability values were also adequate for each questionnaire. Regarding other sources of validity, statistically significant relationships between self-determination, health, and well-being were clearly confirmed, and autonomy was a significant predictor of lifestyle.

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish version of the TSRQ showed adequate psychometric properties (dimensionality and internal structure, reliability, and validity evidence regarding its relationships with other constructs) in college students. The Spanish TSRQ will provide future research aimed to understand the motivational role in college students' health behavior and well-being.

"Why is this relevant for me?": increasing content relevance enhances student motivation and vitality

The notion that motivation is imperative for students' psychological well-being and academic functioning is central to Self-Determination Theory (SDT). According to SDT, different types of motivations can co-occur to a various degree with separate outcomes, depending on the extent of experienced degree of autonomy. In the current study, we investigate how making a learning exercise more relevant for higher education STEM students can affect aspects of student functioning mediated through motivation. In a randomized experiment, results indicate that the students who received a more "relevant" assignment (experimental group) experienced more autonomous forms of motivation relative to the students who received a "generic" or "traditional" exercise (control group). Further, the experimental group reported higher levels of vitality and effort relative to the control group. Using a pre- and post-test design measuring changes in emotional affect during the learning activity, we found that the control group reported an increase in negative affect and a decrease in positive affect. Finally, path analysis showed significant relationships between the type of assignment provided and motivation and student functioning.

Basic psychological needs, quality of motivation, and protective behavior intentions: a nationally representative survey study

Objective

Building on the Self-Determination Theory, this study examines how basic psychological need satisfaction related to COVID-19 behavioral measures is associated with motivation quality and whether motivation quality is associated with intention to wear a face mask and to avoid meeting others.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey study involving a nationally representative sample of Finnish adult population aged 18-79 (N = 2272, M age = 48.63, SD = 16.89, 975 men and 1297 women) was conducted in Finland in May 2021 when protective behaviors were recommended to prevent acceleration of the epidemic. Measures included scales of Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction in Adhering to COVID Prevention Measures, Motivation to Adhere to COVID Prevention Measures, Perceived Personal Risk, Fear of COVID-19, and Protective Behavior Intention. Analysis of variance tests, linear regression analysis, and multinomial logistic regression were conducted. Perceived personal risk and fear of COVID-19 were controlled for in the regression analyses.

Results

All three psychological needs were positively related to autonomous motivation (all p < .001). Autonomous motivation (range OR = 1.82-3.55, p = .001) was consistently related to intention to wear a mask and intention to avoid meeting people. Controlled motivation (range OR = .66-.93, p = .001-.457) was associated with decreased protective behavior intentions. The effects of amotivation (range OR = .65-1.02, p = .001-.911) varied across analyses.

Conclusions

Fostering autonomous motivation could increase adherence to protective behaviors in situations without clear mandates.

How job crafting behaviors influence the innovative behavior of knowledge workers in the gig economy: based on the organismic integration theory

Introduction

The gig economy is extolled for its potential to stimulate economic and social development. This study examines the mediating roles of controlled and autonomous motivation in the relationship between job crafting and innovative behavior in the context of knowledge workers in the gig economy.

Methods

To examine these relationships, we propose and test a conceptual framework using an online survey conducted among knowledge workers in China. The participants consisted of 302 knowledge workers who voluntarily participated in the study. We used structural equation modeling to test the proposed relationships among the variables.

Results

Controlled and autonomous motivation mediates the relationship between job crafting and innovative behavior.

Discussion

Our study shed light on the knowledge workers' motivation dilemma in the gig economy, with theoretical implications for research regarding job crafting, motivation, and practice implications about the job crafting and innovative behavior of knowledge workers.

Gender differences in perceived racism threat and activism during the Black Lives Matter social justice movement for Black young adults

A longitudinal study involving 455 Black young adults living in Canada investigated whether gender and autonomous motivation influenced the relationship between perceived racism threat and Black Lives Matter (BLM) activism, and whether BLM activism influenced life satisfaction over time. A moderated mediation analysis using PROCESS Macro Model 58 tested the indirect effect of autonomous motivation on the relationship between perceived racism threat and BLM activism varying by gender. Multiple linear regression assessed how well BLM activism predicted life satisfaction. Black women perceived greater racism threat than Black men related to increases in BLM activism via the influence of autonomous motivation. BLM activism had a positive influence on life satisfaction over time, regardless of gender. This research suggests Black young women are playing pivotal roles in the BLM movement and helps us understand how motivation may be influencing involvement and well-being in social justice issues.

A Pilot Goal-Oriented Episodic Future Thinking Weight Loss Intervention for Low-Income Overweight or Obese Young Mothers

BACKGROUND

Episodic future thinking (EFT) has shown efficacy in laboratory settings. We conducted a pilot goal-oriented EFT (GoEFT) intervention in a real-world setting to help low-income overweight or obese mothers lose weight. This paper presents intervention acceptability and efficacy.

METHODS

The study used a single-group, before-after design. During the 3-week intervention, participants (N = 15) completed weekly web-based lessons and online health coaching sessions to manage stress and emotion, eat healthier, and be more physically active. Participants completed online surveys at baseline and immediately after the intervention. They also completed an interview to evaluate intervention acceptability. We applied paired t-tests to evaluate efficacy and used content analysis to discover interview themes.

RESULTS

Participants consistently identified the intervention as acceptable, noting the usefulness of pre-written goals, GoEFT strategies, and goal progress evaluations. The intervention effectively promoted weight loss (d = -0.69), fruit and vegetable intake (d = 0.45-0.49), and emotion control (d = 0.71). It also reduced fat (d = -0.51) and added sugar intake (d = -0.48) and alleviated stress (d = -0.52). Moreover, the intervention increased autonomous motivation (d = 0.75-0.88) and self-efficacy (d = 0.46-0.61).

CONCLUSION

The GoEFT intervention was acceptable to participants, showing strong preliminary efficacy.

Psychological Capital, Autonomous Motivation and Innovative Behavior: A Study Aimed at Employees in Social Networks

The present study investigates the relationship between positive psychological capital (PsyCap) and innovative work behavior (IWB), as mediated by autonomous motivation and participative leadership moderation. The study was conducted on a sample of 246 employees from various public and private organizations, recruited through different social networks. The moderated mediation analysis provided evidence about the impact of employees' PsyCap on their innovative behavior at work. This behavior will be higher when individual factors (PsyCap) and social factors (participative leadership) interact with one of the most self-determined forms of motivation. Our findings highlight the importance of the individual's positive psychological capital in activating the resources and motivation, necessary to develop innovative behavior in employees, thus achieving organizational success in today's dynamic and competitive business environment. The results also confirmed the moderating effect of participative leadership on the relationship between autonomous motivation and innovative behavior of employees, supporting that the relationship will be stronger when participative leadership is higher. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, as well as limitations and suggestions for future studies.

Transactional Distance and College Students' Learning Engagement in Online Learning: The Chain Mediating Role of Social Presence and Autonomous Motivation

Purpose

Transactional distance remains an important issue in online education, which is an important indicator to evaluate the quality of teaching and learning in online courses and is closely related to the success of learners' online learning. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential mechanism of transactional distance and its three modes of interaction on the impact of learning engagement of college students.

Participants and Methods

Online Education Student Interaction Scale, Online Social Presence Questionnaire, Academic Self-Regulation Questionnaire and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-Student scales were used, revised questionnaire for cluster sampling of college students, 827 valid samples. SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 24.0 were used for analysis, and Bootstrap method was used to test the significance level of the mediating effect.

Results

Transactional distance (including the three interaction modes) was significantly and positively related to college students' learning engagement. Autonomous motivation played a chain mediating role between transactional distance and learning engagement. In addition, social presence and autonomous motivation mediated the chain between student-student and student-teacher interaction on learning engagement. In addition, however, student-content interactions did not significantly impact social presence, and the chain mediating effect of social presence and autonomous motivation between student-content interaction and learning engagement was not supported.

Conclusion

Based on transactional distance theory, this study reveals the role of transactional distance on college students' learning engagement and the mediating effect of social presence and autonomous motivation in the relationship between transactional distance (and three interaction modes of transactional distance) on college students' learning engagement. This study supports the findings of additional online learning research frameworks and empirical studies to enhance our understanding of how online learning affects college students' learning engagement and the important role of online learning in college student's academic development.

Psychosocial Factors Associated With Physical Activity Among Low-Income Overweight or Obese Mothers with Young Children

PURPOSE

Investigate the associations between psychosocial factors and physical activity.

DESIGN

Secondary data analysis utilizing baseline data of a large-scale community-based randomized controlled lifestyle behavior intervention.

SETTING

The Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Michigan, USA.

SUBJECTS

Low-income overweight or obese mothers with young children (N = 740, 65% response rate).

MEASURES

Survey data were collected via phone interview. Predictors included self-efficacy, autonomous motivation, emotional coping, and social support. Self-reported leisure physical activity was the outcome variable. Covariates were age, race, smoking, employment, education, body mass index, and postpartum status.

ANALYSIS

A multiple linear regression model was applied.

RESULTS

Self-efficacy (β = .32, 95% CI = .11, .52, P = .003) and autonomous motivation (β = .10, 95% CI = .03, .17, P = .005) were positively associated with physical activity. However, emotional coping and social support were not associated with physical activity.

CONCLUSION

Future research should examine the longitudinal association of key psychosocial factors with physical activity.

Motivation, Injury Prevention, and the Incidence of Sports Injuries: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Test of Self-Determination Theory

This study applied self-determination theory (SDT) as a psychological framework to examine whether psychological need support and autonomous motivation are predictive of sports injury preventive behaviours and the incidence of sports injuries. 2042 secondary school students (mean age = 14.33, male = 44.3%) from China completed a survey of the study variables (using established scales) at three time points (baseline, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up). Structural equation modelling examined the core tenets of SDT by testing if the change-scores of the SDT variables (i.e., psychological need support from PE teachers, students' motivation, and students' behavioural adherence) between baseline and 1-month follow-up, were predictive of sports injury incidence assessed at 3-month follow-up. Our model demonstrated acceptable goodness-of-fit parameters (CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.03, and SRMR = 0.05). The relationships between psychological need support, autonomous motivation, and behavioural adherence were both positive and significant. These SDT variables predicted the future incidence of sports injuries following the motivational pathways of SDT. Our study provides evidence of the predictive power of SDT variables on sports injury preventive behaviours and the incidence of sports injuries: Students who perceive their PE teachers as psychological need supportive possess higher autonomous motivation and behavioural adherence towards sports injury prevention, and are also less likely to encounter sports injuries in the future.

Adherence to social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic in Italy: The role of autonomous motivation and defiance

To maintain social distancing in the long term, in the current COVID-19 scenario, people's motivation must be strong and of high quality. Many governments adopted measures enforcing social distancing. Enforcement, however, can produce feelings of defiance and backfiring effects. The present work aims at investigating the relationship between autonomous motivation and intentions to maintain social distancing, through adherence to recommendations and feelings of defiance. A sample of 502 Italian residents, from different parts of Italy, completed an online survey assessing their present behavior, levels of autonomous motivation and feelings of defiance, as well as intentions to observe social distancing in the short and long term. Results support the hypotheses that autonomous motivation is related to stronger intentions to maintain social distancing, particularly in the long term, and that feelings of defiance mediate this relationship. These results underline importance of promoting understanding and internalizing reasons for social distancing, beyond norms.

Supporting Autonomous Motivation for Physical Activity With Chatbots During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Factorial Experiment

BACKGROUND

Although physical activity can mitigate disease trajectories and improve and sustain mental health, many people have become less physically active during the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal information technology, such as activity trackers and chatbots, can technically converse with people and possibly enhance their autonomous motivation to engage in physical activity. The literature on behavior change techniques (BCTs) and self-determination theory (SDT) contains promising insights that can be leveraged in the design of these technologies; however, it remains unclear how this can be achieved.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a chatbot system that improves the user's autonomous motivation for walking based on BCTs and SDT. First, we aimed to develop and evaluate various versions of a chatbot system based on promising BCTs. Second, we aimed to evaluate whether the use of the system improves the autonomous motivation for walking and the associated factors of need satisfaction. Third, we explored the support for the theoretical mechanism and effectiveness of various BCT implementations.

METHODS

We developed a chatbot system using the mobile apps Telegram (Telegram Messenger Inc) and Google Fit (Google LLC). We implemented 12 versions of this system, which differed in 3 BCTs: goal setting, experimenting, and action planning. We then conducted a feasibility study with 102 participants who used this system over the course of 3 weeks, by conversing with a chatbot and completing questionnaires, capturing their perceived app support, need satisfaction, physical activity levels, and motivation.

RESULTS

The use of the chatbot systems was satisfactory, and on average, its users reported increases in autonomous motivation for walking. The dropout rate was low. Although approximately half of the participants indicated that they would have preferred to interact with a human instead of the chatbot, 46.1% (47/102) of the participants stated that the chatbot helped them become more active, and 42.2% (43/102) of the participants decided to continue using the chatbot for an additional week. Furthermore, the majority thought that a more advanced chatbot could be very helpful. The motivation was associated with the satisfaction of the needs of competence and autonomy, and need satisfaction, in turn, was associated with the perceived system support, providing support for SDT underpinnings. However, no substantial differences were found across different BCT implementations.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide evidence that chatbot systems are a feasible means to increase autonomous motivation for physical activity. We found support for SDT as a basis for the design, laying a foundation for larger studies to confirm the effectiveness of the selected BCTs within chatbot systems, explore a wider range of BCTs, and help the development of guidelines for the design of interactive technology that helps users achieve long-term health benefits.

How self-leadership promotes job crafting: Based on the perspective of self-determination theory

According to self-determination theory, the present study develops a moderated mediation model to investigate how and when self-leadership promotes employees' job crafting, emphasizing the mediating effect of autonomous motivation and the moderating effect of leader empowering behavior. We analyze and test the hypotheses based on 269 valid three-wave data from employees. The findings show that self-leadership has a significantly positive impact on job crafting, and a positive indirect effect on job crafting via autonomous motivation. Furthermore, leader empowering behavior not only enhances the positive impact of self-leadership on autonomous motivation, but also positively moderates the mediating effect of autonomous motivation in the relationship between self-leadership and job crafting. Practically, our study provides insights into how to promote job crafting. We also propose limitations and directions for future research.

The Predictive Role of Perceived Autonomy Support in Elementary School Children Physical Activity

The present article aimed to test a predictive model based on children's perception of autonomy support exercised by their physical education teachers in establishing a state of high motivational quality, which in turn leads to greater intention and physical activity. Participants were 502 elementary school students aged 9 to 11 years (52.59% males (9.47 ± 0.53 years old) and 47.41% females (9.54 ± 0.53 years old)), who completed a self-reported questionnaire of perceived autonomy support from physical education teachers, self-determination, intention to be physically active, and physical activity. Results showed that perceived autonomy support was positively related to autonomous motivation, which in turn was associated with intention and physical activity. In addition, the model did not present variations with respect to gender and confirmed the indirect effects of autonomous motivation on intention and practice of physical activity. Finally, we conclude on the importance of an adequate perception of autonomy support in students by their teachers for the establishment of an appropriate motivational state that could promote greater intention and physical activity. Thus, the motivational state acquired in physical education classes can be translated into intention and practice of physical activity in different contexts of students' daily lives.

"Time is My Own Treasure": Parental Autonomy Support and Academic Procrastination Among Chinese Adolescents

Purpose

Previous studies have shown that academic procrastination not only affects middle school students’ academic performance but also causes them physical and psychological stress, as well as negative emotions. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the influencing factors of academic procrastination and its internal mechanisms. This study aims to explore the relationship between perceived parental autonomy support and academic procrastination, as well as the role of autonomous motivation and time management disposition.

Participants and Methods

Cross-sectional data from 662 middle school students were collected using the Parental Autonomy Support Scale, Academic Procrastination Inventory for Middle School Students, Academic Self-Regulation Questionnaire and Adolescence Time Management Disposition Scale. SPSS and its PROCESS macro were used for data analysis.

Results

After gender and age were controlled, the results showed that perceived parental autonomy support could not only directly predict middle school students’ academic procrastination but also predict three paths of procrastination: (1) the mediating role of autonomous motivation, (2) the mediating role of time management disposition, and (3) the chain mediating role of autonomous motivation and time management disposition.

Conclusion

Autonomous motivation and time management disposition played a chain mediating role in the relationship between perceived parental autonomy support and academic procrastination in middle school students.

Exploring the Motivations of Family Caregivers Caring for Older Persons in Urban Poor Accra, Ghana

There is a general paucity of studies on family caregivers' motivations for providing care to older persons in the urban poor context in Ghana. This study seeks to explore family caregivers' motivations for providing care to older persons in urban poor Accra, Ghana. A qualitative descriptive design was used and in-depth interviews were conducted with thirty-one family caregivers. The QSR NVivo 10 software was used to analyze the data thematically. We found that autonomous motivation inspired family caregivers to provide care. Empathy and affection intrinsically motivated some caregivers to provide care to their care recipients, while others were extrinsically motivated by filial responsibility, reciprocity, and obligation to provide care. These findings showed that family caregivers were autonomously motivated to provide care to older persons. We recommend the need for future studies to explore changes in family caregivers' motivations to provide care over time.

Perceived Physical Education Teachers' Controlling Behaviour and Students' Physical Activity during Leisure Time-The Dark Side of the Trans-Contextual Model of Motivation

Background: Previous studies have shown that the controlling behaviour of physical education teachers might be detrimental to their students’ psychological experiences. The purpose of this work was to examine whether and to what extent the different dimensions of the perceived controlling teaching questionnaire predict students’ basic psychological needs, motivations, and physical activities during leisure-time. Methods: A total of 299 students (164 boys and 135 girls) from four Estonian general education schools and two vocational education institutions participated in the study. Students filled in the questionnaire of study variables. A variance-based structural model was used to test the research hypotheses. Results: The results revealed that different forms of controlling behaviours predicted psychological need frustration (β = 0.09−0.37; p < 0.01). Psychological need frustration predicted controlled motivation (β = 0.52; p < 0.01). Controlled motivation predicted subjective norms (β = 0.51; p < 0.01). Intention was predicted by attitudes (β = 0.30; p < 0.01), perceived behavioural control (β = 0.37; p < 0.01), and subjective norms (β = 0.15; p < 0. 01). Attitude was statistically significantly related to leisure-time physical activity (β = 0.09; p < 0.05). The model describes 10% of students’ physical activity in the context of leisure-time. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight that physical education teachers should avoid using controlling behaviours if the aim is to avoid frustrating their students’ psychological needs, which might have detrimental effect on students’ leisure-time physical activity via controlled forms of motivation.

Perceived teacher's support and engagement among students with obesity in physical education: The mediating role of basic psychological needs and autonomous motivation

Grounded in self-determination theory, this cross-sectional study aims to explore the multiple mediating roles of perceived teachers' support for students with obesity and their engagement in physical education. The study included 322 Chinese high school students with obesity (mean age, 16.84 [±0.147] years; 219 [68%] male, 103 [32%] female). Mplus 8.3 software was used to test the multiple mediating effects. After controlling for grade and gender, teacher support was found to neither directly affect students' engagement nor directly stimulate their autonomous motivation; however, it could affect their engagement through the two pathways of 1) basic psychological needs and 2) the chain mediation of basic psychological needs and autonomous motivation. Results suggest that not all teacher support, but only teacher support meeting students' basic psychological needs, can promote engagement in PE by students with obesity. Future research should explore strategies according to the physical and mental characteristics of students with obesity, to enrich and innovate the theoretical system of teacher support in physical education. Furthermore, teacher support interventions to promote engagement among students with obesity should be developed.

[Autonomous and controlled motivation fit on college students' physical fitness:based on the polynomial regression and response surface analysis]

OBJECTIVE

Based on the self-determination theory, to explore the relationship between motivation quality and college students&apos; physical fitness and the mediating role of physical activities from the perspective of the coexistence of autonomous motivation(AM) and controlled motivation(CM).

METHODS

From October to November 2019, a total of 682 freshmen and sophomores(252 males and 430 females) were recruited with cluster-sampling method from 4 colleges and universities in Wuhu City, filled with questionnaires of Perceived Locus of Causality scale and Godin&apos;s leisure-time physical activity questionnaire, and tested physical fitness according to China National Fitness Test Program after 6 weeks. The data were analyzed by polynomial regression combined with response surface analysis and mediation effect test.

RESULTS

Physical fitness presented a "convex" curve increase with the consistency of AM and CM(a1=1.547, a2=1.254, P&lt;0.01). The physical fitness of high AM-high CM combination was higher than that of low AM-low CM combination(Z_(hat)=3.111, 95% CI 0.446-5.896). Under the condition of AM and CM differentiation, physical fitness was higher when the discrepancy was such that AM was higher than CM(a3=5.280, P&lt;0.01; a4=0.232, P&gt;0.05). AM positively predicted physical activity in a nonlinear form(β_( AM)=1.605, β_(AM)~2=1.602, P&lt;0.01). Physical activity showed a "convex" change with the consistency of AM-CM(a1=0.811, P &gt; 0.05; a2=1.618, P &lt;0.01), but there was no significant difference in the level of physical activity between high and low AM-CM combination(Z_(hat)=1.407, 95% CI-0.084-3.391). Physical activity was higher in high AM-low CM combination than that in high CM-low AM combination(Z_(hat)=5.008, 95% CI 2.348-7.113). Matching of AM and CM influenced college students&apos; physical fitness directly(β=0.453, P&lt;0.01) and indirectly through physical activity(β=0.184, 95% CI 0.145-0.240).

CONCLUSION

The coexistence of AM and CM effects physical fitness through their consistency and inconsistency matching.

Effects of Teacher Engagement on Students' Achievement in an Online English as a Foreign Language Classroom: The Mediating Role of Autonomous Motivation and Positive Emotions

As an important factor promoting students' learning behavior and achievement, teacher engagement has been largely neglected in the research literature on English as a foreign language (EFL) and applied linguistics. Moreover, the few studies have focused more on conventional classrooms rather than online learning contexts and failed to reveal how teacher engagement in the online foreign language classroom affected students' achievement. The present study assessed 546 university students in China using self-report questionnaires to examine the relationship between teacher engagement and students' achievement in an online EFL course over an 18-week semester, taking into account the possible mediating effects of autonomous motivation and positive academic emotions. The results showed that teacher engagement exerted a direct and positive impact on students' English achievement. Students' autonomous motivation and enjoyment mediated the association between teacher engagement and English achievement, but the mediating effects of relief were not significant. Additionally, teacher engagement affected students' English achievement through the chain mediation of autonomous motivation and positive academic emotions (enjoyment and relief). Relief displayed a smaller effect on students' English achievement than enjoyment did. These findings elucidate the impact of teacher engagement on students' English achievement in the online environment and support the utility of self-determination theory and control-value theory in explaining foreign language learning. Directions for future research and implications for education are also presented.

Everyday heroes: Graphical life stories and self-defining memories in COVID-19 medical volunteers

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the autobiographical foundations of specific narrative identities, which made it possible to choose medical volunteering in the time of the pandemic, resist highly hazardous conditions of working in COVID-19 "red zones," and emerge from this work with a sense of meaning and optimism.

METHOD

In this study, we focused on the graphical life stories, self-defining memories (SDMs), and self-defining future projections (SDFPs) of four individuals who worked at COVID-19 "red zone" hospitals as medical volunteers.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed that all participants incorporated their volunteering experiences as meaningful and satisfying into their general narrative identity. They scored high on standard scales assessing subjective well-being and reported autonomous regulation of volunteer motivation. We identified narrative trunk lines and metaphors across autobiographical data, which differentiated the participants into four types of general identities extensively manifesting in volunteering identity: faith-based, influence-based, help-based, and success-based. The participants' graphical life stories, SDMs, and SDFPs showed similar patterns consisting of adult-oriented childhood, focus on mid-life events, and a redemption sequence in narration.

CONCLUSION

These findings could be taken as touchstones to highlight the critical value of self-continuity and sense of purpose in active coping with global challenges.

Determinants of Virtual Exercise Equipment Use: An Integrated Model Investigation

BACKGROUND

Given the limited research on behavioral determinants of using virtual exercise machines to engage in exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study applied an integrated behavior change model to identify behavioral determinants using these machines.

METHOD

Adult owners of livestreaming virtual exercise equipment (N = 123) completed measures of social cognition, planning, motivation, virtual exercise machine features, and sociostructural variables at an initial occasion (T1) and 4 weeks later (T2). Hypothesized relations among model constructs were tested using a cross-lagged structural equation model with past behavior and sociostructural variables as covariates.

RESULTS

Autonomous motivation predicted intentions and habit indirectly via attitudes and perceived behavioral control at T1; virtual exercise machine features predicted intention and habit indirectly via social cognition constructs at T1; and intention and habit at T1 predicted exercise behavior at T2.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports social cognition constructs and virtual features as predictors of exercise using virtual exercise machines.

Reducing Red Tape's Negative Consequences for Leaders: The Buffering Role of Autonomous Motivation

In a context where the amount of red tape in healthcare organizations continues to rise, head nurses' job satisfaction is constantly under pressure. By building on the Job Demands-Resources model, we developed a theoretical model investigating the relationship between red tape and job satisfaction. By investigating the mediating role of discretionary room and the moderating role of autonomous motivation in this relationship, this study does not only aim to provide additional knowledge regarding the underlying mechanisms in this relationship, but also to increase our understanding of how this suffering at work can be mitigated. Our conditional process analyses (N = 277 head nurses) indicate that red tape undermines head nurses' job satisfaction and that discretionary room acts as an underlying mechanism in this process. By revealing the mediating role of discretionary room, this study advances our understanding of the risks originating from red tape for leaders. Furthermore, our findings also indicate that autonomous motivation mitigates the negative relation between red tape and discretionary room and between red tape and job satisfaction. As autonomous motivation turns out to be an important protection mechanism against the negative consequences of red tape, organizations should put extra effort into stimulating the autonomous motivation of their leaders. When organizations make sure that their leaders' job designs and work environments meet the need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, leaders will become more autonomously motivated, which will buffer the negative impact of red tape.

Biopsychology of Physical Activity in People with Schizophrenia: An Integrative Perspective on Barriers and Intervention Strategies

People with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia experience high physical comorbidity, leading to a 15-20-year mortality gap compared with the general population. Lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity (PA) play important roles in the quest to bridge this gap. Interventions to increase PA engagement in this population have potential to be efficacious; however, their effectiveness can be hindered by low participant engagement, including low adherence and high drop-out, and by implementation of interventions that are not designed to compensate for the cognitive and motivational impairments characteristic for this group. Moreover, and importantly, the negative symptoms of schizophrenia are associated with neurobiological changes in the brain, which-based on principles of biopsychology-can contribute to poor motivation and impaired decision-making processes and behavioural maintenance. To increase PA levels in people with schizophrenia, better understanding of these neurological changes that impact PA engagement is needed. This has the potential to inform the design of interventions that, through enhancement of motivation, could effectively increase PA levels in this specific population. Incorporating strategies that address the dopamine dysregulation associated with schizophrenia, such as boosting the role of reward and self-determined motivation, may improve long-term PA maintenance, leading to habitual PA. Consideration of motivation and behavioural maintenance is also needed to impart health benefits such as prevention of chronic disease, which is associated with currently low PA levels in this high metabolic risk population. Taking a biopsychological perspective, we outline the neural pathways involved in motivation that are impacted by schizophrenia and propose strategies for promoting motivation for and PA engagement from adoption to habit formation.

Understanding and Enhancing Chinese TEFL Teachers' Motivation for Continuing Professional Development Through the Lens of Self-Determination Theory

Teachers’ continuing professional development (CPD) is a dynamic process that coordinates teachers’ external behavior and internal states. Most teachers participate in varied forms of CPD activities either voluntarily or contractually. The more motivated teachers are to engage in CPD, the more likely they achieve professional and personal growth. Against this backdrop, the current study, adopting the framework of self-determination theory (SDT), sought to investigate the types and levels of Chinese college TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language, hereafter TEFL) teachers’ motivation toward CPD. The questionnaire survey was administered to 402 academics who taught the English language in diverse universities in China. The quantitative analysis showed that teachers exhibited stronger identified regulation and intrinsic motivation than external regulation. Specifically, the exploratory factor analysis identified five motivational orientations: inner-directed academic improvement and cognitive interest, academic self-fulfillment and obligation, academic and social responsibility, social recognition and promotion, lacking the intention for CPD, which corresponded to the SDT motivation continuum. To triangulate, further interviews were conducted with 12 TEFL teachers. The findings of the qualitative analysis—the thematic analysis through Nvivo (Version 12) on the open-ended question and the interviews, revealed that teachers’ struggles in CPD were mainly concerned with the school-related, CPD-related, and teacher-related problems. Moreover, a big gap between teachers’ needs and contextual support was found to be bridged. Based on the findings, this study proposed that social conditions should support teachers’ basic psychological needs in order to sustain and enhance TEFL teachers’ motivation for CPD.

Mechanisms of self-persuasion intervention for HPV vaccination: Testing memory and autonomous motivation

Objective: Optimizing a self-persuasion intervention app for adolescent HPV vaccination requires investigating its hypothesized mechanisms. Guided by the experimental medicine approach, we tested whether (a) self-persuasion intervention components (verbalize vaccination reasons, choose HPV topics) changed putative mechanisms (memory, autonomous motivation) and (b) measures of the putative mechanisms were associated with HPV vaccination. Method: These are secondary analyses from a randomized 2 (cognitive processing: verbalize reasons vs. listen) × 2 (choice: choose HPV topics vs. assigned) factorial trial (Tiro et al., 2016). Undecided parents (N = 161) with an unvaccinated child (11-17 years old) used the self-persuasion app, recalled reasons for vaccination (memory measure), and completed an autonomous motivation measure. Adolescent vaccination status was extracted from electronic medical records 12 months postintervention. Results: The verbalize component resulted in greater recall accuracy of vaccination reasons (p < .001); however, the choose topics component did not increase autonomous motivation scores (p = .74). For associations with HPV vaccination, recall accuracy was not associated (ps > .51), but autonomous motivation scores significantly predicted vaccination (ps < .03), except when controlling for baseline motivation (p = .22). Conclusion: The intervention app engages parents in reasons for vaccination; however, memory may not be a viable mechanism of vaccination. Although the intervention did not affect autonomous motivation, associations with vaccination status suggest it is a viable intervention target for HPV vaccination but alternative strategies to change it are needed. Future testing of a refined app should examine implementation strategies to optimize delivery in clinical or community settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Perceived Motivational Climate and Stages of Exercise Behavior Change: Mediating Roles of Motivation Within and Beyond Physical Education Class

This study examined the relationship between the perceived motivational climate in physical education (PE) classes and the stage of exercise behavior change among 322 high school students in northeastern China. Furthermore, the chain-mediating effects of autonomous motivation in PE and the five types of motivation (interest, competence, social relatedness, appearance, and health) in leisure-time physical activity (PA) were examined. Results showed that autonomous motivation in PE and the five types of motivation in leisure-time PA had chain-mediating effects on the relationships between the perceived mastery- and performance-oriented motivational climate and the stage of exercise behavior change in the whole sample (controlling for gender). Specifically, a perceived mastery-oriented motivational climate promoted autonomous motivation in PE, which, in turn, increased the five types of motivation in leisure-time PA and led to a higher stage of exercise behavior change. Conversely, a perceived performance-oriented motivational climate reduced autonomous motivation in PE which, in turn, decreased the five types of motivation in leisure-time PA and led to earlier stages of exercise behavior change. The patterns of the chain-mediating effects of autonomous motivation in PE and the five types of motivation in leisure-time PA were somewhat similar in girls and boys. The results suggested that PE teachers should create mastery-oriented climates and avoid performance-oriented motivational climates, which may promote intrinsic or identified motivations of students for PA within and beyond PE classes, thereby affecting the leisure-time PA of students.

Perceived Parental Attitudes Are Indirectly Associated with Consumption of Junk Foods and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages among Chinese Adolescents through Home Food Environment and Autonomous Motivation: A Path Analysis

This study aimed to use path analysis to determine the association between perceived parental attitudes toward restricting junk food (JF)/sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and JF/SSB consumption among Chinese adolescents, and whether JF/SSB availability in the home environment and autonomous motivation of adolescents mediated the association. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using questionnaires adapted from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) Study to collect data on 3819 participants with an average age of 14.7 years (SD = 1.7). Spearman correlations and path analysis were performed. It was found that perceived parental attitudes were not directly associated with adolescents’ JF/SSB consumption frequency, but indirectly related to them through JF/SSB availability in the home environment and autonomous motivation of adolescents. When parents held a less positive attitude toward JF/SSB consumption and kept less JFs/SSBs at home, youth displayed more autonomous motivation for restricting JF/SSB intake and consumed fewer JFs/SSBs.

Influence of Physical Self-Concept and Motivational Processes on Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity of Adolescents

There is a growing concern about the increasing decline in physical activity among adolescents. In the search for variables that may be related to physical activity, this study examined the influence of physical self-concept on objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of adolescents through the mediation of the needs satisfaction and two types of autonomous motivation, for academics and for physical education. Data were collected from 618 students (301 boys and 317 girls) aged 10–14 years from 24 secondary schools in Spain. The path analysis results showed that physical self-concept positively predicted needs satisfaction and this, in turn, was positively and significantly related to the two types of autonomous motivation. Finally, only the autonomous motivation for physical education significantly and positively predicted the adolescents’ MVPA. Our findings showed that there was no evidence of an indirect effect of physical self-concept on MVPA. The results are discussed along the lines of the self-determination theory, through the analysis of the role of physical self-concept in increasing adolescents’ physical activity.

The Roles of Grit and Motivation in Predicting Children's Leisure-Time Physical Activity: One-Year Effects

In this study, we tested two alternative models for investigating the ability of dimensions of personal grit (consistency of interest and perseverance of effort) and autonomous motivation to predict the leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) over a one-year period of 256 youth (aged 11-15 years at the beginning of the study). Specifically, we compared a model in which dimensions of grit were assumed to predict LTPA through autonomous motivation with a model in which autonomous motivation was assumed to predict LTPA through dimensions of grit. We tested the two models using variance-based structural equation modelling with Warp PLS v7.0 software. Both models showed a good fit with the data and equally explained 41% of the variance in LTPA over this one-year time period. However, the model based on the total effect of autonomous motivation (β = 0.448, p < 0.001, ES = 0.229) on LTPA through the dimensions of grit was stronger than the model based on the total effect of perseverance of effort (β = 0.356, p < 0.001, ES = 0.126) on LTPA through autonomous motivation, and the total effect of consistency of interest was not significant (β = -0.029, p > 0.05, ES = 0.003). Our findings underscore the relatively greater importance of the interplay between autonomous motivation and perseverance of effort, versus consistency of interest, in predicting LTPA among youth over a one-year period.

Predicting Nurses' Occupational Commitment and Turnover Intention: The Role of Autonomous Motivation and Supervisor and Coworker Behaviors

AIM

To examine whether supportive supervisor (transformational leadership) and coworker (autonomy-supportive) behaviors predict occupational commitment and turnover intention over time through autonomous motivation.

BACKGROUND

Nurse turnover is a serious issue in several countries, straining the efficiency of the healthcare system and compromising both the quality and accessibility of healthcare.

METHOD

Longitudinal data were collected over 12 months from 387 French-Canadian registered nurses. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesized model.

RESULTS

The relationships between predictors at Time 1 (supervisor and coworker behaviors) and occupational commitment and turnover intention at Time 2 are mediated by autonomous motivation at Time 1.

CONCLUSION

In times of global scarcity, the present findings provide insights into how the healthcare work environment acts on nurses' occupational turnover and commitment.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Healthcare organizations are advised to foster supportive work environments and promote autonomous motivation to sustain the nursing workforce.

Work Autonomous and Controlled Motivation on Chinese Employees' Work Performance and Innovative Work Behaviour: The Moderating Role of Financial Stress

This study applied self-determination theory (SDT) to investigate the relationships between work motivation and work behaviour of Chinese employees and the moderating role of financial stress. Data were obtained from 245 employees of five organisations in China using a convenience sampling technique. The results indicated that autonomous motivation positively predicted work performance and innovative work behaviour, while controlled motivation had a positive effect only on work performance of employees. In addition, financial stress moderated the relationships between autonomous motivation and work performance and innovative work behaviour of employees. Specifically, the beneficial effect of autonomous motivation on work performance and innovative work behaviour disappeared when financial stress was high. The findings of the present study supported cultural similarities in the positive role of autonomous motivation and showed cultural differences in the role of controlled motivation. The implications of this study are also discussed.

When and How Job Design Influences Work Motivation: A Self-Determination Theory Approach

Based on self-determination theory and job characteristics theory, this study aims to provide a systematic and comprehensive model simultaneously investigating the relationship between job characteristics and two forms of work motivation (i.e., controlled motivation and autonomous motivation). To examine the proposed model, we recruited employees working in multiple Chinese industries and collected 435 valid questionnaires. The results indicate that job characteristics have a significantly positive effect on basic psychological needs satisfaction, which, in turn, positively affects autonomous motivation and negatively influences controlled motivation. In addition, basic psychological needs satisfaction mediates the linkage between job characteristics and positive or negative work motivation. Moreover, when an employee had high positive affectivity, job characteristics were more likely to fuel their basic psychological needs satisfaction. In contrast, job characteristics were more likely to be the depressor of these needs satisfaction when an employee possesses high negative affectivity. Our findings revealed that the degree of three needs satisfaction at work is a convincing and identifiable psychological mechanism between job characteristics and two types of work motivation. Also, work affectivity may influence the different perceptions of job characteristics, reminding managers that personality traits are a non-negligible factor in job design. Overall, this paper extends the application of the job characteristics model by revealing when and how job characteristics influence two types of work motivation and further puts forward managerial implications.

Development and validation of the treatmentself-regulation questionnaire assessing healthcare professionals' motivation for flu vaccination (TSRQ-Flu)

OBJECTIVE

We use self-determination theory to extend the conceptual understanding of flu vaccine hesitancy among health professionals. The scale sheds light on the role played by motivational factors above and beyond traditional cognitive factors such as biased risk judgements and health beliefs.

DESIGN

Across five phases using data from 718 healthcare professionals we establish factor structure, reliability, discriminant, convergent, criterion-related, incremental validity, and measurement invariance of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire assessing healthcare professionals' motivation for flu vaccination scale (TSRQ-Flu).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

In addition to the four factors of the TSRQ-Flu (autonomous, introjection, external and amotivation regulations), we assess intentions to vaccinate, past vaccination behaviour and validate the scale using measures of cognitive empowerment, vaccine attitudes and social desirability.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that the newly developed 11-item scale is distinct from and contributes over and beyond other psychosocial measures of flu vaccination intentions and can be used to understand the motivation of both vaccinated and not-vaccinated healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSION

This new scale has the potential to make a marked change in the conceptualisation of the roots of vaccine hesitancy among healthcare professionals and aid healthcare managers in developing evidence-based interventions to promote vaccination among their staff.

Relationships between Parenting Behaviors and Adolescents' Creativity in China: The Mediating Role of Autonomous Motivation

This study used a two-wave, longitudinal design to examine the relationships between parenting behaviors (parental autonomy support, parental behavioral control, and parental psychological control) and Chinese adolescents' creativity, and the mechanism underlying the relationships. A total of 258 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 13.35, 48% girls) participated in the present study. The study measured the parenting behaviors received by the participants, their autonomous motivation, and creativity using the Parenting Scale, the Self-Regulatory Style Questionnaire-Academic, and the verbal and figural Divergent Thinking Tests, respectively. Structural equation models revealed that parental autonomy support and parental behavioral control had positive effects on Chinese adolescents' creativity one year later, whereas the relationship between parental psychological control and creativity one year later was not significant. In addition, parental autonomy support and parental behavioral control contributed to adolescents' creativity through the mediating effect of autonomous motivation. Findings from the present study help clarify developmental pathways linking parenting behaviors to adolescents' creativity in Chinese culture.

Evolution of physical activity habits after a context change: The case of COVID-19 lockdown

Objective

Habits, defined as well‐learned associations between cues and behaviours, are essential for health‐related behaviours, including physical activity (PA). Despite the sensitivity of habits to context changes, little remains known about the influence of a context change on the interplay between PA habits and behaviours. We investigated the evolution of PA habits amidst the spring COVID‐19 lockdown, a major context change. Moreover, we examined the association of PA behaviours and autonomous motivation with this evolution.

Design

Three‐wave observational longitudinal design.

Methods

PA habits, behaviours, and autonomous motivation were collected through online surveys in 283 French and Swiss participants. Variables were self‐reported with reference to three time‐points: before‐, mid‐, and end‐lockdown.

Results

Mixed effect modelling revealed a decrease in PA habits from before‐ to mid‐lockdown, especially among individuals with strong before‐lockdown habits. Path analysis showed that before‐lockdown PA habits were not associated with mid‐lockdown PA behaviours (β = −.02, p = .837), while mid‐lockdown PA habits were positively related to end‐lockdown PA behaviours (β = .23, p = .021). Autonomous motivation was directly associated with PA habits (ps < .001) and withto before‐ and mid‐lockdown PA behaviours (ps < .001) (but not with end‐lockdown PA behaviours) and did not moderate the relations between PA behaviours and habits (ps > .072).

Conclusion

PA habits were altered, and their influence on PA behaviours was impeded during the COVID‐19 lockdown. Engagement in PA behaviours and autonomous motivation helped in counteracting PA habits disruption.

A Motivational Mechanism Framework for Teachers' Online Informal Learning and Innovation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Online informal learning (IL) spreads quickly in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Studies have predicted that both online and workplace IL have potential value to individual and organization development, whereas the study on its link with innovation remains scarce. IL is an individualized learning pattern different from formal learning, and its functioning mechanism on innovation will deepen our understanding of the relationship between learning and innovation. Self-efficacy and autonomous motivation are considered as two streams of motivational mediating mechanisms to innovation. However, previous studies have proceeded largely in separation from each other. Researchers highlight the need to develop a more fine-grained theory of motivation and innovation. In addressing these literature gaps, this paper takes college teachers as the sample and focuses on the motivational mediating mechanism between online IL and innovation. The results showed that teachers IL could positively predict innovative teaching performance. Personal teaching efficacy and autonomous motivation played as sequential mediators on the link between IL and innovative teaching performance. This study extends the literature of IL–innovation relationship and enriches understanding of cognition-oriented motivation theory, highlighting one's internal autonomous construction is the key to innovation. Theoretical and practical implications for psychological empowerment are discussed.

School Climate and Responsibility as Predictors of Antisocial and Prosocial Behaviors and Violence: A Study towards Self-Determination Theory

Self-determination theory and Vallerand's hierarchical model have been studied taking into account different types of social factors that can result in different consequences. The purpose of this work was to see if responsibility and social climate could predict antisocial and prosocial behavior and violence. For this, 429 students (M = 11.46, SD = 1.92) participated in the study, answering a questionnaire with five variables: school climate, responsibility, motivation, satisfaction of psychological needs, prosocial and antisocial behavior, and violence. The main results indicated that most variables correlated positively and directly, except in the case of antisocial behavior and violence. On the other hand, a prediction model (X2 = 584.145 (98); RMSEA = 0.104 [90% CI = 0.096, 0.112]; TLI = 0.849; CFI = 0.894) showed that responsibility and school climate can predict basic psychological needs, and that these needs can improve autonomous motivation, which, in turn, could positively predict on improving prosocial behavior and reducing antisocial behavior and violence. In conclusion, school climate and responsibility can encourage the development of positive consequences in the classroom, specifically in terms of prosocial behavior and the reduction of violence and antisocial behavior.

Autonomous motivation and support flourishes for individuals higher in collaborative personality factors: Agreeableness, assisted autonomy striving, and secure attachment

INTRODUCTION

Individuals who strive autonomously for their goals, and who perceive autonomy supportive environments are more successful during goal pursuit. What dispositional factors predict autonomy flourishing during goal pursuit?

METHODS

Four longitudinal studies were conducted over an 8-month academic year, and university students (N_total  = 1,544) completed surveys on motivation, support, and personality. Structural equation models were created using Mplus software to test whether collaborative personality factors were related to growth in autonomous motivation and autonomy support.

RESULTS

All three distinct collaborative personality factors, trait Agreeableness, assisted autonomy striving, and secure parental attachment, were related to increases in autonomous motivation over the academic year. Conscientiousness, assisted autonomy, and secure attachment were related to increases in perceived autonomy support. A higher order latent collaborative traits factor, composed of Agreeableness, assisted autonomy, and secure attachment was found to be related to increased autonomous motivation and support over the academic year and resulted in increased goal progress.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that individuals higher in collaborative personality factors experience growth in personal autonomy during goal pursuit. Future research is needed to determine how to promote collaboration in goal pursuit to further help individuals successfully strive for their goals.

How Does High-Performance Work System Prompt Job Crafting through Autonomous Motivation: The Moderating Role of Initiative Climate

By invoking self-determination theory, we proposed an integrated, multilevel model to investigate the impact of a high-performance work system (HPWS) on employees’ job crafting through autonomous motivation, along with the moderation effect of initiative climate. Adopting a three-wave, time-lagged research design, we collected data from 615 employees of 54 Chinese companies. The results of multilevel path analysis revealed that (1) HPWS is positively related to employees’ job crafting; (2) HPWS has a positive impact on employees’ autonomous motivation; (3) employees’ autonomous motivation positively affects their job crafting; (4) employees’ autonomous motivation mediates the positive relationship between HPWS and employees’ job crafting; (5) initiative climate moderates the relationship between employees’ autonomous motivation and job crafting; and (6) the indirect relationship between HPWS and job crafting through autonomous motivation is also moderated by initiative climate. The findings of this study provided several implications for job crafting research and for human resource management in organizations.

Autonomy support in physical education promotes autonomous motivation towards leisure-time physical activity: evidence from a sample of Chinese college students

Based on the trans-contextual model, two studies aimed to test whether autonomy-supportive physical education (PE) promotes autonomous motivation towards leisure-time physical activity among Chinese college students. Study 1 was conducted in September 2015 and used a cross-sectional design. Participants were students who provided data on perceived autonomy support and motivation for physical activity. Regression analysis was used to analyze the data. Study 2 took place from September to December 2015 and employed an experimental design. Participants were PE teachers and their students. The teachers were randomized to either an intervention or a control group and those in the intervention group received a 3-month long autonomy-supportive intervention program. Their students provided data on motivation. The data were analyzed with repeated measurement analysis of variance. A total of 681 students aged 16-26 years participated in Study 1. Perceived autonomy support predicted autonomous motivation in PE (β = 0.18, P = 0.001), which in turn predicted autonomous motivation towards leisure-time physical activity (β = 0.51, P = 0.001). Ten PE teachers (28-53 years) and 258 students (16-26 years) participated in Study 2. Students who were educated by the intervention teachers had significantly stronger autonomous motivation towards leisure-time physical activity than students educated by the control teachers after the intervention, (F = 12.41, P = 0.001). The results suggest that PE may serve as an effective platform to promote an active lifestyle among Chinese college students when teachers provide students with an experience of autonomy.

Testing a Self-Determination Theory Model of Healthy Eating in a South African Township

INTRODUCTION

The burden of type 2 diabetes is growing rapidly in sub-Saharan Africa. Healthy eating has been shown to prevent the disease but is challenging to maintain. Self-determination theory offers a motivational framework for maintaining a healthy diet based on evidence from western settings. This study aims to assess whether self-determination theory can explain healthy diet behavior in a disadvantaged urban South African population.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from a South African township population (N = 585; pre-diabetes = 292, diabetes = 293, age 30-75) were analyzed using structural equation modeling, while controlling for socio-demographic factors. Measures included self-reported autonomous and controlled motivation, perceived competence (measured through barrier self-efficacy), perceived relatedness (measured through perceived participation of significant others) and, as indicator for healthy diet, frequency of fruit, vegetable, and non-refined starch intake.

RESULTS

Healthy eating was positively associated (β = 0.26) with autonomous motivation, and negatively associated (β = -0.09) with controlled motivation. Perceived competence and relatedness were positively associated with healthy eating (β = 0.49 and 0.37) and autonomous motivation (β = 0.65 and 0.35), and negatively associated with controlled motivation (β = -0.26 and -0.15). Autonomous motivation mediated the effect of perceived competence and relatedness on healthy eating. The model supported a negative association between controlled and autonomous motivation.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study providing evidence for self-determination theory explaining healthy eating in a disadvantaged sub-Saharan African setting among people at risk of or with diabetes type two. Our findings suggest that individuals who experience support from friends or family and who feel competent in adopting a healthy diet are more likely to become more motivated through identifying the health benefits of healthy eating as their goal. This type of autonomous motivation was associated with a healthier diet compared to individuals whose motivation originated in pressure from others or feelings of guilt or shame. Our recommendations for public health interventions include: focus on the promotion of diet-related health benefits people can identify with; encourage social support by friends or family; reinforce people's sense of competence and skills; and avoid triggering perceived social pressure or feelings of guilt.

A Preliminary Investigation of the Relationship between Motivation for Physical Activity and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties in Children Aged 8-12 Years: The Role of Autonomous Motivation

While motivation for physical activity (PA) and PA participation have been linked, research on the relationship between motivation for PA and mental health outcomes is scant, with studies involving children largely underrepresented. Grounded in self-determination theory, this cross-sectional study aimed to determine whether autonomous motivation versus external motivation (a form of controlled motivation) for PA is associated with fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties and higher levels of PA in children. A sample of 87 children (aged 8–12 years) were recruited from five primary schools in Victoria, Australia. An adapted version of the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ) was used to measure motivation for PA and structured parent-report questions were used to assess moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels. Parents also completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to measure children’s emotional and behavioural difficulties. Children’s autonomous motivation was associated with fewer emotional and behavioural difficulties (β = −0.25, p = 0.038) and higher levels of MVPA (β = 0.24, p = 0.014). These results indicate autonomous motivation is associated with improved mental health outcomes and higher levels of PA in children. Thus, PA interventions that promote autonomous motivation may enhance children’s mental health compared to interventions that promote mainly controlled forms of motivation.

Environmentally Specific Transformational Leadership and Employee's Pro-environmental Behavior: The Mediating Roles of Environmental Passion and Autonomous Motivation

Organizational management practices in promoting sustainable development of the ecological environment are becoming a crucial way for enterprises to gain competitive advantages. However, whether the goal of such practices can be achieved depends on employees’ perception of environmental problems and the way they act. Therefore, it is important to stimulate employees’ pro-environment behaviors through management activities. Building on affective events theory and self-determination theory, we examined the effect of environmentally specific transformational leadership on employees’ pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs), as well as the potential mediating effects of environmental passion and autonomous motivation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 214 employees in China. Structural equation modeling was performed to test the theory-driven models. The results showed that environmentally specific transformational leadership positively predicted employees’ PEBs, and that environmental passion and autonomous motivation mediated this relationship, respectively. Furthermore, multiple-mediating testing results showed that environmental passion and autonomous motivation played sequential mediating roles in the link of environmentally specific transformational leadership to PEBs. This research unveiled environmental passion and autonomous motivation as underlying mechanisms that accounted for the link between transformational leadership and PEBs.

Effects of Motivational Interviewing and Wearable Fitness Trackers on Motivation and Physical Activity: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the impacts of Wearable Fitness Trackers (WFTs), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Self Determination Theory (SDT)-based interventions on physical activity (PA) and motivation for PA.

DATA SOURCE

Manuscripts published between 2008 and 2018 in PubMed, Web of Science, CABAbstracts, and SPORTDiscus database were reviewed.

STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Inclusion criteria were original pilot studies, randomized controlled trials (RCT), cross-sectional studies, qualitative assessments, prospective cohort studies, longitudinal observational studies, and pretest posttest designs published in peer-reviewed journals.

DATA EXTRACTION

Studies were evaluated by 2 independent researchers for inclusion.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Extracted data were synthesized in a tabular format and narrative summary.

RESULTS

Twenty-six studies met final inclusion criteria, 10 addressed WFT use and PA behavior, 4 investigated WFT use and its association with motivation for PA, and 10 examined SDT and/or MI and their effect on motivation for PA and/or PA behavior. Finally, 2 studies addressed SDT-based MI, WFT use, and the combined effect on PA behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

While SDT-based interventions and MI positively impact motivation for PA and PA behavior, WFTs revealed mixed results. Wearable Fitness Trackers prove effective among individuals not currently meeting PA guidelines but have little impact on other populations. Self Determination Theory, MI, and WFTs use provides a promising combination of interventions to increase PA among sedentary individuals, though research is limited.

Effects of a Concept-Based Physical Education on Middle School Students' Knowledge, Motivation, and Out-of-School Physical Activity

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the extent to which a concept-based physical education curriculum, specifically the Science of Healthful Living (SHL) curriculum, influenced middle school students' knowledge, motivation for physical education (PE) and physical activity (PA), and out-of-school PA.

METHODS

A static group comparison design was adopted to analyze the differences on fitness knowledge, autonomous motivation for PE and PA, and out-of-school PA between eighth-grade students who studied the SHL curriculum (the experimental condition, n = 168) and their peers who studied a multiactivity PE (the control condition, n = 226) 1 year earlier.

RESULTS

The students who studied the SHL curriculum demonstrated significantly higher levels of knowledge (p < .05, Cohen d = 0.81), autonomous motivation toward PA (p < .05, Cohen d = 0.20), and out-of-school PA (p < .05, Mann-Whitney U effect size = 0.01) than students who had experienced the multiactivity PE. The students in both conditions were equally motivated in their respective PE courses.

CONCLUSION

The SHL curriculum is effective in promoting students' PA behavior outside of the school.