Distinct Motivational Profiles Research Articles

Profiles of motivational impairment and their relationship to functional decline in frontotemporal dementia

Motivational disturbances are pervasive in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and impact negatively on everyday functioning. Despite mounting evidence of anhedonia in FTD, it remains unclear how such changes fit within the broader motivational symptom profile of FTD, or how anhedonia relates to functional outcomes. Here we sought to comprehensively characterize motivational disturbances in FTD and their respective relationships with functional impairment. A cross-sectional study design was used including 211 participants—68 behavioral-variant FTD (bvFTD), 32 semantic dementia (SD), 43 Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and 68 healthy older control participants. Anhedonia severity was measured using the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale while severity of apathy was assessed across Emotional, Executive, and Initiation dimensions using the Dimensional Apathy Scale. Functional impairment was established using the FTD Functional Rating Scale (FRS). Distinct motivational profiles emerged in each dementia syndrome: a domain-general motivational impairment in bvFTD; a predominantly anhedonic profile in SD; and more pronounced initiation and executive apathy in AD. Correlation analyses revealed differential associations between motivational symptoms and severity of functional impairment in each group. Executive apathy was associated with functional impairment in bvFTD, while anhedonia was strongly correlated with functional decline in SD. Finally, executive and emotional apathy were associated with functional decline in AD. Our study indicates distinct profiles of apathy and anhedonia in FTD syndromes, which in turn are differentially associated with functional decline. This detailed characterization of motivational phenotypes can inform patient stratification for targeted interventions to improve functional outcomes.

Motivational profiles in mathematics among Chinese secondary school students and their relations with perceived parent/teacher goals and academic achievement

This study identified maths motivation profiles in a sample of 878 Chinese secondary school students, and examined the effects of perceived parent/teacher achievement goals on maths motivation profiles and the effects of the latter on academic outcomes. Latent profile analysis conducting on three achievement goals (mastery-approach, performance-approach, and performance-avoidance) and four interest components (emotion, value, knowledge, engagement) identified four profiles: medium, high all, low, and high mastery-oriented and interest. Students who perceived more parent/teacher mastery-approach and performance-approach goals were more likely to belong to the high all profiles. Students with the high all and the high mastery-oriented and interest profiles showed the highest use of deep and surface learning strategies and maths achievement. The results revealed distinct motivational profiles by integrating achievement goal theory and four-phase interest development theory, and provided preliminary evidence to help parents and teachers enhance students’ maths motivation.

Motivational profiles and their relation to wellbeing, burnout, and drop-out intentions in university football players in the UK: A mixed methods approach.

In this multi-study paper, we adopted a mixed methods approach to examine the motivational profiles of sub-elite student footballers participating in UK university sport, in relation to their wellbeing, burnout, and drop-out intentions. In Study 1 we used a cross-sectional survey design to collect quantitative measures of motivational regulations, wellbeing, burnout, and drop-out intentions in 260 (n = 129 female) and (n = 131 male) sub-elite university footballers from UK universities (Mage = 20.7 y, SD = 1.5 y). Latent profile analysis revealed five distinct motivational regulation profiles that we deemed ranged from less to more motivationally adaptive in the following order: High-controlled, Amotivated (n = 27), Very-low Motivation (n = 32), Average Motivation (n = 104), High-autonomous, High-controlled (n = 38), and High-autonomous, Low-controlled (n = 59). Wald chi-square tests revealed between-profile differences in wellbeing (χ2 = 115, p < .001), burnout (reduced accomplishment: χ2 = 74, p < .001, exhaustion: χ2 = 34, p < .001, devaluation: χ2 = 121, p < .001), and drop-out intentions (university football: χ2 = 40, p < .001, football in general: χ2 = 91, p < .001). Pairwise comparisons suggested more adaptive motivational profiles had higher wellbeing, and lower burnout and drop-out intentions, than less adaptive profiles. Subsequently, in Study 2 we qualitatively explored the experiences of footballers from the different motivational profiles. We purposefully sampled 2–4 participants from each of the five motivational profiles to take part in focus groups, resulting in a total of 15 participants (Mage = 21.6 y, SD = 1.41 y; n = 8 female, n = 7 male). Results revealed commonalities across the motivational profiles, including that while motivation was complex, individualized, dynamic and interactive in nature; a central, underlying motivator for all players was their passion for football. However, results also suggested that compared to those from less motivationally adaptive profiles, those from more adaptive profiles tended to perceive the environment more positively and tended to feel more valued by those around them. Thus, protecting players’ passion for football and helping them feel more valued within their university-sport environment may support players in remaining in, or moving towards, more adaptive motivational regulation profiles and experiencing associated positive outcomes.

Learning analytics to explore the motivational profiles of non-traditional practical nurse students: a mixed-methods approach

Learning analytics provides a novel means to examine various aspects of students’ learning and to support them in their individual endeavors. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of learning analytics to provide insights into non-traditional, vocational practical nurse students’ (N = 132) motivational profiles for choosing their studies, using a mixed-methods approach. Non-traditional students were somewhat older learners than those following a more straightforward educational pathway and had diverse educational or professional backgrounds. Institutional admission data and analytics were used to identify their specific study motives and distinct motivational profiles, and to illustrate the connections between the motives emerging in the motivational profiles. Furthermore, the association between the motivational profiles and study performance was examined. The results of qualitative content analysis indicated that non-traditional practical nurse students pursued such specialized training for various reasons, and that pragmatic, professional rationales were emphasized over prosocial, altruistic factors. Through the adoption of person-centered latent class analysis, three motivational profiles were identified: self-aware goal-achievers, qualification attainers, and widely oriented humanitarians. Additionally, the analyses of epistemic networks for the profiles showed the complex interplay between the motives, confirming that some motive connections appear to be more prominent than others. Moreover, the findings indicated that study motives reported at admission did not seem to dictate students’ later study performance, as no statistically significant associations were found between the motivational profile and the students’ final grade point average or study dropout. This investigation paves the way for more-targeted motivational support and the use of learning analytics in the context of vocational education and training.

Perceived relatedness-support matters most for teacher well-being: a self-determination theory perspective

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether teachers’ perceptions of school leaders’ need-supportive practices were associated with teacher well-being using variable- and person-centred approaches. Self-determination theory was used as the theoretical lens. A sample of 611 high school teachers nested in 14 schools participated in this study. We first examined whether need-supportive leadership practices (i.e. support for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) were associated with well-being and ill-being via autonomous motivation. Results revealed that relatedness-support was positively associated with well-being and negatively associated with ill-being. However, autonomy and competence-support were not significant predictors. Next, we identified the existence of different subgroups of teachers based on their perceived need-supportive leadership using a person-centred approach. Results indicated four distinct subgroups: dissatisfied, ambivalent, average, and thriving teachers. Dissatisfied teachers have very low perceived need-support and scored particularly low in competence- and relatedness-support. Ambivalent teachers reported especially low relatedness-support. Average teachers reported average levels of need-support with scores close to the group average. Lastly, thriving teachers indicated the highest levels of perceived need-support. Each subgroup showed distinct motivation and well-being profiles. Overall, the variable and person-centred approaches provided converging evidence showing the importance of perceived need-supportive leadership for teachers’ motivation and well-being. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

Motivational Profile as a Predictor of Physical Activity Among US Adults During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Daily Diary Study.

This study used a daily diary approach to examine associations between day-level physical activity (PA) behavior, PA-specific motivational profile, and days since the COVID-19 national emergency declaration during the early months (April-June 2020) of the pandemic. A total of 468 US adults (Mage = 34.8y, 79% female) participated in a 28-day smartphone-based daily diary study assessing PA. A baseline survey assessed PA and motivation for PA using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire. Multilevel linear regression models examined the main effects and interactions of motivational profile and time (days since the US March 13, 2020, COVID-19 national emergency declaration) on daily PA minutes. Latent profile analysis identified 4 distinct motivational profiles for PA among this sample: profile 1: high amotivation (n = 100, 21%); profile 2: low controlled motivation (n = 55, 12%); profile 3: high external regulation (n = 47, 10%); and profile 4: moderate autonomous motivation (n = 266, 57%). After controlling for baseline PA, there were significant interactions between profile and time on daily PA (-0.21, P < .01). Profile 2 showed greater decreases in daily PA minutes over time than profile 1 (b = -0.29, P < .01). Profiles 3 and 4 did not indicate significant decreases in PA compared with profile 1 (b = 0.14, P = .31 and b = -0.16, P = .05, respectively). Contrary to previous research, individuals with lower controlled or moderate autonomous motivation demonstrated the largest decreases in PA over time, whereas individuals with higher amotivation or external regulation demonstrated smaller decreases over time. These findings suggest that external motivation may have provided short-term protection against declines in PA observed during early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Work Motivation Profiles of the Millennial Generation

Purpose: This study aimed to determine characteristic profiles of the Millennial generation based on their sociodemographic features and motivational preferences regarding work. It contributes to the literature on Millennial motivation and provides insights for organizations seeking to better understand and manage said generation. Design/Methodology: The study was conducted on a sample of 197 questionnaire responses from individuals in the Millennial generation who had work experience. The sampling was non-probabilistic and did not consider aspects related to socioeconomic or education levels to broaden the coverage of the study. The data were collected through an online survey in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Said data were examined using an analytical procedure—which involves a clustering algorithm to determine the optimal number of clusters—and logistic regression analysis—to identify significant variables that can explain the behavior of each group. Findings: Two distinct motivational profiles were found among Millennials: (1) a group motivated by achievement and power and (2) another one inspired by affiliation and supervision group. It was also found that these two profiles are related to certain sociodemographic features, such as age and main breadwinner. Conclusions: Understanding the motivational profiles of Millennials can help organizations better tailor their management practices and work environments to meet the needs of this generation. Likewise, organizations may need to provide several kinds of incentives and rewards to motivate different groups of Millennials. Future research in this area could explore the relationship between these motivational profiles and other outcomes, such as job satisfaction and turnover. Originality: This study contributes to the literature on Millennial motivation by introducing a quantitative methodology to identify different motivational profiles and explore their relationship with sociodemographic features. The use of a clustering algorithm and regression analysis also contributes to the methodological approaches employed in this area of research. Focused on the Mexican context, this paper also provides insights into the unique cultural and economic factors that may influence Millennial motivation in this region.

Motivational Profiles and Associations With Physical Activity Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Study.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, triggering many countries, including Canada, to issue stay-at-home orders to their citizens. Research indicates that these stay-at-home orders are associated with a decline in physical activity (PA), a behavior that can reduce disease risk and improve the quality of life. Many behavioral change theories, such as the self-determination theory (SDT) of motivation, state that PA engagement is mediated by psychological constructs, such as motivation. According to the SDT, motivation exists on a continuum from more controlled (external or coerced) to more autonomous (volitional) regulatory forms. Individuals move along the continuum from more controlled to more autonomous forms through the fulfillment of 3 psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Research indicates that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is positively associated with the autonomous regulatory form of motivation. Recently, researchers have speculated that a better method to describe motivation than movement along the continuum is to generate motivational profiles, which represent combinations of differing levels of controlled and autonomous regulation existing simultaneously. We aimed to identify distinct motivational profiles and determine their association with MVPA before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a cross-sectional, retrospective design, we surveyed 977 Canadian adults. We assessed motivation for PA using the Behavioral Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-3 (BREQ-3). We assessed PA pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in Canada using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). We derived motivational profiles using latent profile analysis (LPA). Using motivational profiles as an independent variable, we assessed their effect on PA at all 3 time points with multilevel models that included the participant ID as a random variable. We identified 4 profiles: high controlled and high autonomous (HCHA), low overall motivation (LOM), high autonomous and introjected (HAI), and high amotivation and external (HAE). The HCHA profile had the highest levels of weekly MVPA minutes at all 3 time points, followed by the HAI profile. Our results suggest that a combination of both autonomous and controlled regulatory forms may be more effective in influencing MVPA than the controlled or autonomous forms alone, particularly during times of high stress, such as a worldwide pandemic. Although the odds of another global pandemic are low, these results may also be applied to other times of stress, such as job transitions, relationship changes (eg, change in marital status), or the death of a loved one. We suggest that clinicians and practitioners consider developing PA interventions that seek to increase both controlled and autonomous regulatory forms instead of aiming to reduce controlled forms.

Gendered patterns in students’ motivation profiles regarding iSTEM and STEM test scores: a cluster analysis

BackgroundPromoting and improving STEM education is being driven by economic concerns as modern economies have a rising demand for qualified researchers, technicians, and other STEM professionals. In addition, women remain under-represented in STEM-related fields, with significant economic and societal consequences. Abundant research has shown that gendered pathways into and away from STEM are mediated through motivation, but there is paucity of knowledge regarding gendered patterns in high school students’ motivation profiles, especially in transdisciplinary domains like integrated STEM (iSTEM). This study addresses these gaps by examining the interconnection between patterns in motivation profiles towards integrated STEM (iSTEM), gender and STEM test scores.ResultsUsing cluster analysis in a sample of N = 755 eighth grade students, we established four distinct motivation profiles. Subsequently, a multinomial logistic regression was performed to calculate predicted probabilities for cluster membership based on gender and test scores. Cluster distributions indicate significant differences based on gender and test score. Although our analysis shows no difference in average test scores, significant gender differences can be found in and between motivation profiles. For instance, girls are more likely to belong to a less favorable profile cluster than boys. In that cluster, girls have on average a significantly higher test score compared to boys, indicating a differential effect of motivation profiles.ConclusionsThe concept of motivational co-expression emphasizes a need for instructors to move past the simple high or low motivation labels, and toward an appraisal that recognizes how students adopt a complex interplay of motivation types. Moreover, the gender analyses raise questions about how we can move towards more equitable approaches.

Children's Motivation Profiles in Sports and Physical Activities: A Latent Profile Analysis and Self-Determination Theory Approach.

Using latent profile analysis and self-determination theory, the present study aimed to examine younger children's motivation profiles in sports and physical activities and the relations of those profiles to various predictors and achievement outcomes. A total of 1,116 German children from Grade 2 participated in this study. Latent-profile-analysis solutions based on five behavioral-regulation types covered in self-determination theory (i.e.,intrinsic, identified, introjected, external, amotivation) were tested. Results favored a three-profile solution, showing three theoretically meaningful and distinct motivation profiles labeled "amotivated," "non-self-determined," and "self-determined." Older children and children with a lower physical self-concept were more likely to be members of the amotivated profile relative to the other profiles than younger children and children with a higher physical self-concept. Furthermore, children of the self-determined profile demonstrated the best physical performance in various motor-skills tests.

Motivational Profiles in Unemployment: A Self-Determination Perspective.

In general, being unemployed has negative implications for the individual and the mental health of the public as a collective. One way to escape this situation is to search for a job. However, following self-determination theory (SDT), unemployed people's different reasons (i.e., their motivation) for engaging in a job search influence their well-being, attitudes, and behaviors for better or worse. Some research has already supported the associations between different types of motivation and these outcomes, but less is known about how these types of motivation simultaneously associate with these outcomes. The current study addressed this issue by studying how different motivational profiles had different implications for the affective experiences, commitment to employment, and job search behavior of the unemployed. Latent profile analysis, among 865 unemployed individuals from previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa, highlighted four distinct motivational profiles: motivated, ambivalent, amotivated, and unmotivated. The motivated reported some good well-being (i.e., positive experiences) and economic outcomes (i.e., employment commitment and job search), but these came at a cost (i.e., more negative experiences). The same went for the ambivalent, but to a lesser extent. Being unmotivated seemed to have the opposite effect in that it came with psychological benefits, but with economic costs, as these individuals might withdraw from the labor market. This also applied to the amotivated, although they experienced less psychological benefit than their unmotivated counterparts. The findings made several contributions to SDT and unemployment research and could help tailor interventions and policies for particular types of unemployed people.

Latent motivation profiles for choosing teaching as a career: How are they linked to self-concept concerning teaching subjects and emotions during teacher education training?

Numerous studies have explored pre-service teachers' motivation for choosing teaching as a career and the relations of pre-service teachers' motivation profile membership to long-term consequences. In contrast, little is still known about certain predictors and the more proximal consequences of pre-service teachers' motivation profile membership. Using the conceptualization of motivation proposed by Pohlmann and Möller (2010, Zeitschrift für Pädagogische Psychologie, 24, 73-84), the present study aimed to identify pre-service teachers' motivation profiles for choosing teaching as a career and to explore the relations of those profiles to certain individual characteristics (i.e., gender, age, specific school type, number of semesters, scholastic grade point average, self-concept concerning teaching subjects) as predictors and emotions pertaining to the teacher education programme (i.e., enjoyment, anger, anxiety) as outcomes. A total of 559 pre-service teachers from a mid-sized university in the North of Germany participated in this study. To identify pre-service teachers' motivation profile for choosing teaching as a career, latent profile analysis (LPA) with one to eight profile solutions was performed. Furthermore, to explore the specific relations of pre-service teachers' motivation profile membership to the predictors and outcomes under study, several multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results of LPA revealed four distinct motivation profiles labelled 'Educationally Motivated' (26.9%), 'Utility Oriented' (14.9%), 'Motivationally Balanced' (55.4%), and 'Extrinsically Motivated' (2.7%). Higher self-concepts concerning teaching subjects increased almost twice the membership into the 'Educationally Motivated' profile relative to the 'Utility Oriented' and 'Extrinsically Motivated' profiles but decreased the membership into the 'Utility Oriented' profile relative to the 'Motivationally Balanced' profile. The 'Educationally Motivated' profile showed the highest level of enjoyment and lowest levels of anxiety and anger, while the 'Utility Oriented' profile exhibited the least enjoyment and highest levels of anxiety and anger.

The Temporary Agency Worker's Motivation Profile Analysis.

The Self-Determination Theory (SDT) establishes that human motivations can take different forms (e.g., amotivation, extrinsic and intrinsic motivation), yet it is only recently that the theory has been advanced to explain how these different forms combine to influence temporary agency workers’ (TAWs) affective commitment and their perception over the human resources practices (HRP) applied. We tested this theory with data from seven temporary agency companies (N = 3766). Through latent profile analysis (LPA) we identified five distinct motivation profiles and found that they differed in their affective commitment to the agency and to the client-company, and in their perception of HRP. We verified that temporary agency workers in more intrinsic profiles had more positive outcomes and a better perception of the investment made by the companies, than did TAWs in more extrinsic profiles. Additionally, when TAWs were able to integrate the reasons for being in this work arrangement, the negative effect of the extrinsic motivation was attenuated, and it was possible to find moderated profiles in which TAWs also showed more positive results than TAWs with only extrinsic motives. These differences are consistent with the notion that a motivation profile provides a context that determines how the individual components are experienced. Theoretical and practical implications of this context effect are discussed.

Motivational profiles and proactive career behaviors among the solo self-employed

PurposeAs the current “one size fits all” research approach is likely to be ineffective in identifying the conditions that promote the entrepreneurial career of the solo self-employed, this paper advances the current understanding of the heterogeneity among the solo self-employed.Design/methodology/approachA person-centered approach is used to identify groups among the solo self-employed based on their starting motives and to examine their engagement in proactive career behaviors.FindingsUsing Latent Class Analysis (LCA), six groups displaying distinct motivational profiles are identified: (1) the pushed by necessity, (2) entrepreneurs by heart, (3) control-seekers, (4) occupationally-driven, (5) challenge-seekers and (6) the family business-driven. In line with the argument that starting motives affect behavior because they reflect the future work selves that individuals aim for, results show that solo self-employed with distinct motivational profiles differ in their engagement in proactive career behaviors. For future research, it is recommended to examine the role of demographic characteristics in the engagement in proactive career behaviors.Originality/valueAlthough starting motives among self-employed people have been studied frequently, this research applies an innovative methodological approach by using LCA. Hereby, a potentially more advanced configuration of starting motives is explored. Additionally, this study applies a career perspective towards the domain of solo self-employment by exploring how solo self-employed with distinct motivational profiles differ in terms of managing their entrepreneurial careers.

Associations Among Wearable Activity Tracker Use, Exercise Motivation, and Physical Activity in a Cohort of Cancer Survivors: Secondary Data Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey.

BackgroundCancer survivors who meet physical activity (PA) recommendations (≥150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] per week) experience better health outcomes. With the growing availability of wearable activity trackers (WATs), it may be easier to track PA. However, it is unknown what motivates survivors to use these devices.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate the associations among motivations for exercise, previous WAT use for tracking a health goal or activity, and meeting the recommended amount of PA among a cohort of cancer survivors.MethodsData on WAT users who reported having a previous cancer diagnosis were analyzed from the National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey 5 Cycle 3. All survivors with complete information on demographics, exercise motivations (internal guilt, external pressure, physical appearance, and exercise enjoyment), previous WAT use (yes or no), and minutes of MVPA per week (N=608) were included. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to test these associations. A separate cluster analysis was conducted to identify the profiles of exercise motivation that were associated with reporting WAT use.ResultsThe mean age of the cohort was 66.9 years (SD 12.1). The majority were non-Hispanic White (473/608, 78.8%) and female (322/608, 54.9%), and skin cancer was the most commonly reported diagnosed cancer (154/608, 27.8%). Survivors who reported using WATs to track a health goal or activity were 1.6 times more likely to meet MVPA recommendations than those who did not use WATs (odds ratio [OR] 1.65, 95% CI 1.03-2.65; P=.04). When exercise motivations were assessed independently, survivors who reported not feeling any internal guilt as an exercise motivation were 73% less likely to report having used a WAT than those who felt any internal guilt (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.14-0.54; P<.001). A total of 3 distinct motivational profiles emerged from the cluster analysis. WAT users had an increased probability of membership in profile 3, which was characterized as being strongly motivated to exercise by internal guilt, physical appearance, and exercise enjoyment (OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.1-9.7; P<.001).ConclusionsAmong this cohort, survivors who reported using WATs to track a health goal or activity were significantly more likely to report meeting PA recommendations. Survivors who reported feeling internal guilt as an exercise motivation were significantly more likely to report using WATs to track a health goal or activity. When examining clusters of motivation, survivors who reported previous WAT use were more likely to report being motivated to exercise by a mix of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, including internal guilt, exercise enjoyment, and physical appearance. Given the health benefits of PA for cancer survivors, technology-focused interventions that use WATs and target exercise motivation may aid in cancer survivors meeting the level of recommended PA.

Abstract PO-145: Examining the association of wearable activity tracker usage, exercise motivation, and physical activity in a cohort of cancer survivors

Abstract Purpose With the growing availability and implementation of wearable activity trackers (WATs) as motivational tools for tracking and managing physical activity, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between motivations for exercise (guilt, pressure, appearance, and enjoyment), WAT usage, and meeting the recommended amount of physical activity (&amp;gt;= 150 minutes per week) among a cohort of cancer survivors. Methods Data on WAT users with a history of cancer diagnosis were analyzed from the National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5 Cycle 3. Complete survey data from a total of 608 HINTS respondents were used for analyses. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess motivational predictors of WAT use and examine the association between WAT use and meeting the recommended amount of physical activity. A cluster analysis was conducted using participants’ responses to identify motivational profiles that were associated with using WATs. Results After adjusting for all covariates in a multivariate logistic regression model, cancer survivors who reported not feeling any guilt as a motivation for exercise were 73% less likely to use a WAT (OR: 0.274, 95% CI: 0.139, 0.543) (p =0.0002). Three motivational profiles (autonomous with high introjected regulation, autonomous with low introjected regulation, and amotivation) emerged from the cluster analysis which differed significantly across motivation and class membership. WAT users had an increased probability of membership in the autonomous with high introjected regulation group (n = 119 86%) characterized as being motivated to exercise by guilt, appearance, and enjoyment. Additionally, after adjusting for all covariates in a multivariate logistic regression model, cancer survivors who used WATs were 1.6 times more likely to meet physical activity recommendations (&amp;gt;=150 mins per week) compared to those who did not use WATs (OR: 1.649, 95% CI: 1.026, 2.648) (p = 0.0386). Conclusions When exercise motivations were assessed independently, only guilt was significantly associated with WAT usage among this cohort of cancer survivors. However, when assessing clusters of exercise motivations, three distinct motivational profiles emerged with distinctly different class memberships. WAT users were significantly more likely to be in a class characterized by being motivated by guilt, appearance, and enjoyment. The cluster analysis provides a unique examination on not just how a single exercise motivation influences WAT usage, but how a combination of motives can be identified. Additionally, using a WAT was significantly associated with meeting physical activity recommendations in this cohort of cancer survivors. Given the health benefits of physical activity for cancer survivors, WATs may be a useful tool for physical activity interventions aimed at increasing motivation and exercise engagement. Citation Format: Steven De La Torre, Albert Farias, Donna Spruijt-Metz. Examining the association of wearable activity tracker usage, exercise motivation, and physical activity in a cohort of cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-145.

Motivational Profiling of League of Legends Players.

Player motivation is a key research area within games research, with the aim of understanding how the motivation of players is related to their experience and behavior in the game. We present the results of a cross-sectional study with data from 750 players of League of Legends, a popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game. Based on the motivational regulations posited by Self-Determination Theory and Latent Profile Analysis, we identify four distinct motivational profiles, which differ with regards to player experience and, to a lesser extent, in-game behavior. While the more self-determined profiles “Intrinsic” and “Autonomous” report mainly positive experience-related outcomes, a considerable part of the player base does not. Players of the “Amotivated” and “External” profile derive less enjoyment, experience more negative affect and tension, and score lower on vitality, indicating game engagement that is potentially detrimental to players' well-being. With regards to game metrics, minor differences in the rate of assists in unranked matches and performance indicators were observed between profiles. This strengthens the notion that differences in experiences are not necessarily reflected in differences in behavioral game metrics. Our findings provide insights into the interplay of player motivation, experience, and in-game behavior, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of player-computer interaction.

Treatment Motivations and Expectations in Patients with Actinic Keratosis: A German-Wide Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Trial.

Patient-centered motives and expectations of the treatment of actinic keratoses (AK) have received little attention until now. Hence, we aimed to profile and cluster treatment motivations and expectations among patients with AK in a nationwide multicenter, cross-sectional study including patients from 14 German skin cancer centers. Patients were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Treatment motives and expectations towards AK management were measured on a visual analogue scale from 1–10. Specific patient profiles were investigated with subgroup and correlation analysis. Overall, 403 patients were included. The highest motivation values were obtained for the items “avoid transition to invasive squamous cell carcinoma” (mean ± standard deviation; 8.98 ± 1.46), “AK are considered precancerous lesions” (8.72 ± 1.34) and “treating physician recommends treatment” (8.10 ± 2.37; p < 0.0001). The highest expectation values were observed for the items “effective lesion clearance” (8.36 ± 1.99), “safety” (8.20 ± 2.03) and “treatment-related costs are covered by health insurance” (8.00 ± 2.41; p < 0.0001). Patients aged ≥77 years and those with ≥7 lesions were identified at high risk of not undergoing any treatment due to intrinsic and extrinsic motivation deficits. Heat mapping of correlation analysis revealed four clusters with distinct motivation and expectation profiles. This study provides a patient-based heuristic tool for a personalized treatment decision in patients with AK.

Understanding Motivational Profiles of High-Ability Female Students from a Singapore Secondary School: A Self-Determination Approach

Using the self-determination theory (SDT), this study sought to understand motivational profiles and their links to psychological learning attributes. Participants were 90 secondary three (grade 9) students, aged 15 to 16 years old, from an elite all-girls school in Singapore. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three clusters of students with distinct motivational profiles. MANOVA, ANOVA and post hoc tests showed that the three clusters differed significantly in self-efficacy, intrinsic task value, effort and enjoyment in learning. A “highly motivated” cluster characterised by high introjected, identified and intrinsic regulations was found to be most adaptive, with the “highly motivated” cluster being associated with the most optimal psychological learning attributes. An “unmotivated” cluster characterised by high amotivation was found among this sample of high-ability students, with the “unmotivated” cluster being the least adaptive. The importance of understanding how the different motivational regulations were combined to influence psychological learning attributes was discussed.

Similar but different: Profiling secondary school students based on their perceived motivational climate and psychological need-based experiences in physical education.

The purpose of this study was to provide more insight into how the physical education (PE) context can be better tailored to the diverse motivational demands of secondary school students. Therefore, we examined how different constructs of student motivation in the context of PE combine into distinct motivational profiles, aiming to unveil motivational similarities and differences between students' PE experiences. Participants were 2,562 Dutch secondary school students, aged 12-18, from 24 different schools. Students responded to questionnaires assessing their perception of psychological need satisfaction and frustration, and perceived mastery and performance climate in PE. In order to interpret the emerging profiles additional variables were assessed (i.e. demographic, motivational and PE-related variables). Two-step cluster analysis identified three meaningful profiles labelled as negative perceivers, moderate perceivers and positive perceivers. These three profiles differed significantly with regard to perceived psychological need satisfaction and frustration and their perception of the motivational climate. This study demonstrates that students can be grouped in distinct profiles based on their perceptions of the motivational PE environment. Consequently, the insights obtained could assist PE teachers in designing instructional strategies that target students' differential motivational needs.