Self-determination theory proposes that behavior change will occur and persist if it is autonomously motivated.Autonomous motivation for a behavior is theorized to be a function both of individual differences in the autonomy orientation from the General Causality Orientations Scale and of the degree of autonomy supportiveness of relevant social contexts.We tested the theory with 128 patients in a 6-month, very-low-calorie weight-loss program with a 23-month follow-up.Analyses confirmed the predictions that (a) participants whose motivation for weight loss was more autonomous would attend the program more regularly, lose more weight during the program, and evidence greater maintained weight loss at follow-up, and (b) participants' autonomous motivation for weight loss would be predicted both by their autonomy orientation and by the perceived autonomy supportiveness of the interpersonal climate created by the health-care staff.Recent statistics indicate that more than 12 million American adults are severely obese and face significant health risks due to their weight (Kissebah, Freedman, & Peiris, 1989;Kuczmarski, 1992).~ In addition to being linked to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and various other illnesses, severe obesity has been found, in both longitudinal and actuarial studies, to significantly increase the risk of premature death (Drenick, Bale, & Seizer, 1980;Pi-Sunyer, 1993; Simopoulos & Van Itallie, 1984).Furthermore, in many countries, including the United States, obesity is a stigmatizing condition, especially for women (Sobal & Stunkard, 1989), and is often associated with dysphoric states and psychological problems.Although there is disagreement about whether or not there are significant risks associated with mild obesity (Garner & Wooley, 1991 ), there is little doubt about the seriousness of the risks associated with severe and morbid obesity. 2 Consequently, very-low-calorie diets have often been recommended for the severely or morbidly obese.Although such diets can have negative side effects (e.g., Apfelbaum, Fricker, & Igoin-Apfelbaum, 1987), the risks related to severe and morbid obesity are believed to outweigh those related to the diets.Typically, people who persist at very-low-calorie diets lose large amounts of weight, averaging about 44 lbs (20 kg) in 12-16 weeks (Wadden, 1993).The great majority of these individuals, however, regain a substantial portion of that weight within
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As mindfulness research advances on a variety of fronts, it has become increasingly important to carefully define and measure the construct. In this commentary, we draw from our recent research experience on these topics in addressing four issues of primary concern to Bishop et al: The nature of mindfulness, the role of acceptance in the phenomenon, the relation between mindfulness and meditation, and the measurement of mindfulness in meditative and other contexts.
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Self-determination theory (SDT) is a macro theory of human motivation that evolved from research on intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and expanded to include research on work organizations and other domains of life. We discuss SDT research relevant to the workplace, focusing on (a) the distinction between autonomous motivation (i.e., intrinsic motivation and fully internalized extrinsic motivation) and controlled motivation (i.e., externally and internally controlled extrinsic motivation), as well as (b) the postulate that all employees have three basic psychological needs—for competence, autonomy, and relatedness—the satisfaction of which promotes autonomous motivation, high-quality performance, and wellness. Research in work organizations has tended to take the perspectives of either the employees (i.e., their well-being) or the owners (i.e., their profits). SDT provides the concepts that guide the creation of policies, practices, and environments that promote both wellness and high-quality performance. We examine the relations of SDT to transformational leadership, job characteristics, justice, and compensation approaches.
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