The Moderating Role of Autonomous Motivation on the Relationship between Subjective Well-Being and Physical Health.

Ivana Marcinko,Xia Li

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0126399

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderator effects of autonomous motivation on the relationship between subjective well-being and physical health. Using a cluster sampling approach 486 students (403 female and 83 male students) were included in this study. Subjective well-being, physical health and autonomous motivation were determined by self-report measures. Data were analysed using hierarchical regression analysis and analysis of variance. The results show that high self-determination moderates the relationship between high subjective well-being and physical health. Accordingly, the best physical health was reported by participants who had high level of subjective well-being and whose behaviours were self-determined. Additional analyses have shown that the moderating effect of self-determination is based on the moderational impact of autonomous motives and not the controlling ones. Additionally, whether autonomous motivation moderates the relationship between components of subjective well-being and physical health was also tested. The findings have shown that autonomous motives moderate relationship between physical health and one component of well-being, positive affect. Consequently, a good physical health was found among participants with high positive affect and behaviours regulated by high degree of autonomous motives. Conclusion which can be drawn from these findings is that if an individual behaves autonomously then it can contribute to positive mind—body influences and support their own health.

Highlights

If we look at the vast amount of research conducted over the past decades in the area of clinical and health psychology, it could be noted that mainstream scientist have been focused on the relationship between negative psychological states, mental and somatic health
The main hypothesis of this study was that autonomy would amplify positive effects of high well-being on physical health
The results of additional analysis demonstrated that the moderating role of the self-determination is based on the moderational effect of autonomous motives and not the controlling ones

Summary

Introduction

If we look at the vast amount of research conducted over the past decades in the area of clinical and health psychology, it could be noted that mainstream scientist have been focused on the relationship between negative psychological states, mental and somatic health. Focus has been shifted to the impact of positive psychological states on health. In this context large number of articles has been written on how subjective well—being or happiness, as is more commonly referred to, relates to physical health. Physical health was measured both, objectively using morbidity and mortality rates or medical examination, and subjectively, using self-reports. Research has shown invaluable evidence that subjective well—being is associated to physical health

Objectives

Results

Conclusion