Abstract
Motivation toward physical exercise (MPE) and trait self-control (TSC) were identified as key predictors of subjective wellbeing (SWB). However, there has not been any research designed to examine the mediating role of TSC in the relationship between MPE and SWB. The present study utilizes self-determination theory, control-process theory of self-regulation, and theory of multiple pathways of TSC in order to examine whether TSC mediates the relationships of autonomous MPE (A-MPE), controlled MPE (C-MPE), and impersonal MPE (NO-MPE) with SWB using structural equation modeling (XLSTAT PLS). Three hundred seventeen adult American individuals (Mage = 32.97, SDage = 11.30), who reported to be regular exercisers, voluntarily answered questionnaires assessing MPE, TSC, and SWB. Correlational analyses revealed positive relationships between A-MPE, TSC, and SWB, and negative relationships of C-MPE and NO-MPE with TSC and SWB. Mediation analyses revealed that TSC mediated the relationships of A-MPE (partial mediation) and C-MPE (full mediation) with SWB, but did not mediate the relationship between NO-MPE and SWB. The estimates of the quality of the hypothesized model were acceptable (outer model GoF = 0.935; absolute GoF = 0.330; relative GoF = 0.942; inner model GoF = 1.008; R2 = 36.947%). Finally, this study supports the view that MPE can influence SWB through TSC, and incites to pursue the examination of the relationships between self-determined motivation, self-regulation mechanisms, and health-related outcomes.
Highlights
Subjective wellbeing (SWB), which can be defined as “. . .people’s evaluations of their lives – the degree to which their thoughtful appraisals and affective reactions indicate that their lives are desirable and proceeding well” (Diener et al, 2015, p. 234), represents a growing subject of interest around the world for psychologists, economists, philosophers, and politicians (e.g., Diener, 2000; Diener et al, 2015)
Based on the tenets of the self-determination theory (e.g., Deci and Ryan, 2000, 2008a,b), the control-process theory of self-regulation (e.g., Carver and Scheier, 1990, 1998; McCullough and Willoughby, 2009), and the theory of multiple pathways of trait self-control (TSC) (Hagger, 2013, 2014), and consistent with the above-mentioned studies’ results, the present study proposes four sets of hypothesis: have any prediction concerning the relationship between C-Motivation toward physical exercise (MPE) and SWB
The analyses revealed that autonomous MPE (A-MPE) was positively related to SWB, whereas controlled MPE (C-MPE) and NO-MPE were both negatively related to SWB
Summary
Subjective wellbeing (SWB), which can be defined as “. . .people’s evaluations of their lives – the degree to which their thoughtful appraisals and affective reactions indicate that their lives are desirable and proceeding well” (Diener et al, 2015, p. 234), represents a growing subject of interest around the world for psychologists, economists, philosophers, and politicians (e.g., Diener, 2000; Diener et al, 2015). 234), represents a growing subject of interest around the world for psychologists, economists, philosophers, and politicians (e.g., Diener, 2000; Diener et al, 2015) Such a phenomenon would reflect the tendency of most societies to recognize the value of the human being and the importance of taking into account self-perceptions for evaluating individual’s life (e.g., Diener et al, 2015). For that reason, examining the predictive factors of SWB is of great importance. Such a subject may represent a considerable interest to a worldwide audience
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