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The Process by Which Relative Autonomous Motivation Affects Intentional Behavior: Comparing Effects Across Dieting and Exercise Behaviors

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Abstract

A motivational model integrating self-deter-mination theory and the theory of planned behavior was tested in two samples for exercise and dieting behavior respectively. Relative autonomous motivation from self-determination theory was hypothesized to predict intentions to exercise or diet via the mediation of attitudes and perceived behavioral control (PBC) from the theory of planned behavior. It was also expected that attitudes and PBC would predict actual levels of exercise and dieting behavior via the mediation of intentions. Relations in the proposed model were expected to be invariant across the behaviors. Two samples of participants (N = 511) completed measures of the autonomous motives, attitudes, subjective norms, PBC, and intentions with respect to exercise and dieting behavior. Four weeks later, participants self-reported their behavior. Structural equation models supported the replicability of the proposed model in both behaviors. Findings supported the majority of the hypothesized effects in the proposed model across the two health behaviors. However, four effects were significantly different across the two behaviors: the effect of autonomous motives on intentions, subjective norms and PBC on intentions, and intentions on behavior. Findings extend knowledge of the processes by which psychological antecedents from the theories affect health behaviors integral to the maintenance of energy balance.

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Notes

  1. We would like to thank an anonymous reviewer for providing additional justification for the theoretical links between autonomous motives and attitudes.

  2. For brevity, only sample items from the dieting context are given. A questionnaire containing all measures from the present study is available on request from the first author.

  3. We also tested an alternative hypothesis that the relationship between intention and behaviour would be moderated by autonomous motives. This is based on the theoretical assumption that individuals may form intentions to engage in dieting and exercise behaviour if, and only if, they reported high levels of autonomous motives in that context. In order to test this hypothesis, we formed groups with high and low levels of autonomous motives using a median split on the RAI variable and re-estimated the final structural equation models for each moderator group within the dieting and exercise samples. For both dieting and exercise, the standardized path coefficient between intentions and behavior was not significantly different as indicated by the lack of overlap in the 95% confidence intervals for the path coefficients across the high- and low-autonomous motives moderator groups. Therefore the hypothesis that the intention→behavior relationship was moderated by autonomous motivation had to be rejected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Risk Analysis, Social Processes, and Health Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Martin S. Hagger

  2. School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK

    Nikos L. D. Chatzisarantis

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK

    Jemma Harris

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  1. Martin S. Hagger
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  2. Nikos L. D. Chatzisarantis
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  3. Jemma Harris
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Correspondence to Martin S. Hagger.

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Hagger, M.S., Chatzisarantis, N.L.D. & Harris, J. The Process by Which Relative Autonomous Motivation Affects Intentional Behavior: Comparing Effects Across Dieting and Exercise Behaviors. Motiv Emot 30, 306–320 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-006-9046-5

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