Perceived Autonomy Support Research Articles

The impact of practicum job demands and resources on pre-service teachers’ occupational commitment and job intent

Around the world, there is a need to understand how to support pre-service teachers through their initial teacher education (ITE). The current study applied the Job Demands-Resources Theory to examine the associations among Australian pre-service teachers’ job demands and resources. The structural equation modelling found that perceived autonomy support, and relatedness with colleagues and students, were positively related to work outcomes of occupational commitment and job intent. Conversely, factors like disruptive student behaviour and time pressure were negatively associated with these outcomes. These findings suggest the relevance of providing support mechanisms for pre-service teachers to enhance their important ITE phase.

The relation between perceived autonomy support and (in) formal learning when using a PDP: the mediating role of self-direction in learning

PurposeTo keep up with their changing environment, organizations are investing in continuous skills development of their employees and therefore implement personal development plans (PDPs). However, to be effective, PDPs require employees to show self-direction in learning (SDL). Autonomy-supportive supervisors can foster employees’ SDL. Therefore, the purpose of this cross-sectional study is two-fold. First, this study explores the relationship between perceived autonomy support and learning at the workplace. Second, this study investigates the mediating role of SDL when using a PDP.Design/methodology/approachBased on data from a convenience sample from employees in various industries (n = 193), structural equation modelling was used to investigate the relationships between the different variables.FindingsFirst, a positive relationship was found between perceived autonomy support and informal learning activities, but not with formal learning activities. Second, results indicated that SDL when using a PDP mediates the relation between perceived autonomy support and both formal and informal learning activities at the workplace. These results suggest that a supervisor who is perceived as autonomy supportive can foster employees’ SDL when using a PDP and, in turn, support learning at the workplace.Practical implicationsAlso, these findings indicate that autonomy-supportive supervisors can encourage the undertaking of learning activities by stimulating SDL when using a PDP.Originality/valueFor a PDP to be effective, a degree of SDL is assumed. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate SDL within a PDP setting.

Revision and validation of the “Motivational Climate in Physical Education Scale” (MCPES) in Chinese educational context

This study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the “Motivational Climate in Physical Education Scale” (MCPES) among middle school students. Data were collected from 1,008 students, with 473 completing the MCPES, the Physical Needs Support in Physical Education Scale (PNS-PE), and the Youth Sports Friendship Quality Scale (YSFQS). Additionally, 437 students completed only the MCPES, and 200 valid retest questionnaires were gathered three weeks later. Exploratory factor analysis identified four factors: perceived mastery climate, perceived performance climate, perceived autonomy support, and perceived relatedness support with a total of 16 items. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor structure (χ2/df = 3.38, GFI = 0.92, NFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0.93, IFI = 0.93, SRMR = 0.05). The scale exhibited strict measurement invariance across genders and strong invariance across grade levels. It was positively correlated with teacher autonomy support (r = 0.34–0.53) and with each dimension and total score of sports friendship (r = 0.21–0.61). Cronbach’s α coefficients for the MCPES and its dimensions were 0.75, 0.82, 0.79, 0.80, and 0.88, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the three-week retest were 0.64, 0.63, 0.72, and 0.76. In conclusion, the Chinese version of the MCPES demonstrates robust reliability and validity for use with middle school students.

The Determinants of Mental Illness Self-Management for Patients With Schizophrenia and Type 2 Diabetes: A Self-Determination Theory Approach.

This study based on self-determination theory aimed to assess the relationship between motivation, competence in diabetes management and perceived autonomy support respectively and mental illness self-management; furthermore, the authors intended to explore the determinants of mental illness self-management for patients with schizophrenia and diabetes. This was a cross-sectional study. One hundred ten participants were recruited at the psychiatric hospital and assessed with the Illness Management and Recovery Scale, the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire, the Perceived Competence Scale for Diabetes and the Health-Care Climate Questionnaire. Patients with lower educational levels, who were admitted to the chronic ward, were unemployed, had lower motivation in illness management, lower competence in diabetes management and perceived lower autonomy support all had lower mental illness self-management. Competence in diabetes management, employment status, autonomy support, educational levels and living alone were the determinants of mental illness self-management. Recovery from schizophrenia and comorbid diabetes is an enduring and complicated process requiring support from healthcare providers. Health professionals should assess the levels of illness self-management and provide integrated care interventions for patients with schizophrenia and diabetes, helping them manage both conditions. The illness management programme could apply to patients with schizophrenia and diabetes and address patients' characteristics such as low levels of education, living alone and being unemployed while additionally promoting motivation and competence, and providing supporting autonomy. The STROBE checklist was followed. Patients with schizophrenia and diabetes were recruited for this study and voluntarily completed the questionnaire.

When a Partner Supports Your Sexual Autonomy: Perceived Partner Sexual Autonomy Support, Need Fulfillment, and Satisfaction in Romantic Relationships.

Sexual need fulfillment is central to well-being in romantic relationships. Self-determination theory suggests that perceiving a romantic partner as autonomously supportive is linked with greater well-being through supporting the fulfillment of basic psychological needs. The current research examines whether there are unique associations with need fulfillment and sexual and relationship satisfaction when people perceive their partner as autonomously supportive in the sexual domain. Across three multi-method studies (N = 786), we developed a measure of perceived partner sexual autonomy support and demonstrated that perceiving sexual autonomy support from a partner in general, during sex, and over time were associated with greater sexual need fulfillment as well as sexual and relationship satisfaction for both partners over and above the association with general perceived autonomy support and perceived partner responsiveness during sex. Sexual need fulfillment also accounted for the positive associations between perceived partner sexual autonomy support and satisfaction across studies.

Depressive symptoms as a potential mechanism for the association between perceived autonomy support and optimal commitment in long-term couples.

Depressive symptoms as a potential mechanism for the association between perceived autonomy support and optimal commitment in long-term couples.

Perceived autonomy support in individuals with Parkinson’s disease requiring emergency care: a cross-sectional pilot study

BackgroundIndividuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) report a diminished perceived functional autonomy as their condition progresses. For those seeking emergency care, it is unknown whether the patient-physician relationship is instrumental in respecting patient autonomy. This study evaluated patient autonomy ideals in individuals with PD requiring emergency care and the perceived support for autonomy from emergency department physicians.MethodIndividuals with PD (n = 36, average age 78.1 years) were surveyed using the Ideal Patient Autonomy questionnaire (IPA) and the Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ). A multivariable regression analysis assessed whether patients’ Hoehn and Yahr stage and IPA questionnaire results predicted HCCQ items.ResultsThe IPA questionnaire revealed that individuals with PD in need of emergency care emphasize the significance of medical expertise (IPA ‘doctor should decide’ theme 0.71) in decision-making and their desire to be fully informed about all potential risks (IPA ‘obligatory risk information’ theme 0.71). The average HCCQ values showed a decreasing trend across Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 to 5: 6.19, 6.03, 5.83, 5.80, and 5.23, respectively. HY scale values also influenced HCCQ items related to the physician’s role.ConclusionIn our cohort, individuals with Parkinson’s disease tend to rely on medical expertise for decision-making and prioritize complete risk information during emergency care. However, this autonomy support diminishes as functional disability levels increase.

The Mayo Leadership Impact Index Adapted for Matrix Leadership Structures: Initial Validity Evidence.

Physician burnout has reached crisis levels. Supportive leadership is one of the strongest drivers of physician well-being, and monitoring supervisor support is key to developing well-being focused leadership skills. Existing measures of leader support were designed within "direct report" supervision structures limiting their applicability to matrixed leadership reporting structures where direct reports are not the predominant norm. Antecedently, no measure of leadership support is validated specifically for implementation in matrixed leadership structures. Adapt and validate the Mayo Leadership Impact Index (MLII) for settings with matrixed leadership structures. A psychometric validation study utilizing classical test theory and item response theory. A tripartite hospital system in the southwestern US. Physician-respondents to a 2023 cross-sectional survey. After pilot testing, the adapted MLII was examined using a unidimensional graded response model and confirmatory factor analyses. Convergent validity was investigated via correlations with professional fulfillment, perceived autonomy support, self-valuation, and peer connectedness/respect. Divergent validity was tested via correlations with burnout. Of the three candidate revisions of the MLII, the 9-item adaptation was selected for its superior validity/reliability indices. Standardized Cronbach's and Ordinal alpha coefficients were 0.958 and 0.973, respectively. CFA loadings exceeded 0.70 (p < 0.001), and coefficients of variation (R2) exceeded 0.60 for all items. GRM slope parameters indicated "high" to "very high" item discrimination. Items 2, 5, and 8 were the most informative. Positive correlations of the adapted MLII with professional fulfillment, perceived autonomy support, and peer connectedness/respect were observed, supporting convergent validity. Negative correlation with overall burnout supports divergent validity. The findings provide evidence of the adapted MLII's validity, reliability, and appropriateness for implementation within matrixed leadership settings. Prior to this study, no leadership support measure had been validated for use among the growing number of healthcare systems with matrixed leadership reporting structures.

Effects of coaches' autonomy support on athletes' aggressive behavior and athlete burnout: verification of the mediating effects of coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy.

This study investigated the relationships between perceived autonomy support, coach-athlete relationship, team efficacy, aggressive behavior, and athlete burnout among team sports athletes. It verified the mediating effects of the coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy on the relationship between autonomy support and athlete burnout. A questionnaire survey on autonomy support, coach-athlete relationships, aggressive behavior, and athlete burnout was administered to 336 team sports athletes (292 male athletes and 44 female athletes). A cross-sectional research design was used to collect the data. To analyze the collected data, frequency, reliability, descriptive statistical, and correlation analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity tests, and structural model analysis were conducted using AMOS version 24.0. Bootstrapping was used to examine the mediating effects. The fit of the measurement model was assessed by calculating the fit indices as follows: x 2 = 329.689, df = 124, p < 0.001, TLI = 0.945, CFI = 0.956, RMSEA = 0.070 (90% CI = 0.061-0.080), and SRMR = 0.060. Autonomy support positively affected the coach-athlete relationship (β = 0.841) and team efficacy (β = 0.338). The coach-athlete relationship positively affected team efficacy (β = 0.479). Furthermore, autonomy support did not significantly influence aggressive behavior (β = -0.053), and negatively affected athlete burnout (β = -0.305). The coach-athlete relationship also did not significantly affect aggressive behavior (β = 0.054), and negatively affected athlete burnout (β = -0.303). Team efficacy negatively affected aggressive behavior (β = -0.516) and athlete burnout (β = -0.201). Finally, autonomy support was found to affect athlete burnout through the coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy. Considering that autonomy support affects athlete burnout through coach-athlete relationship and team efficacy, coaches need to enhance the quality of the coach-athlete relationship and improve team efficacy to reduce athlete burnout. Above all, the study findings suggest that coaches need to provide autonomy-supportive behaviors.

Perceived teacher autonomy support and grit as predictors of ideal L2 self among Chinese EFL learners

Although some research attention has been given to second language (L2) affective and emotion constructs recently, this research agenda is still in its infancy. In an attempt to shed more light on this area, the present researchers tested a structural model of ideal L2 self in which perceived teacher autonomy support and L2 grit served as predictors. For this purpose, 346 Chinese English as a foreign language (EFL) learners were requested to participate in an electronic survey. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The construct validity of the used scales was verified by performing confirmatory factor analysis. The SEM results indicated that although both perceived teacher autonomy support and L2 grit significantly predicted the ideal L2 self, the former was a more powerful predictor in the final fit model. Additionally, it was revealed that perceived autonomy support had a slight effect on EFL learners’ grit levels. The outcomes of this study can have implications for research and practice.

Developmental trajectories of creativity during early adolescence in a Japanese sample: Links to perceived parental autonomy support and psychological control

This study aimed to determine the developmental trajectories of creativity during early adolescence and identify parental factors that predict the differences between these developmental trajectories. We examined the development of creativity in early adolescence using a group-based trajectory modeling. Data were collected from seventh-grade Japanese junior high school students. In this prospective longitudinal study, participants’ creativity was assessed using the verbal Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking at three time points (every six months). They also reported on perceived parental autonomy support and psychological control at the first phase of the study. Results of the analysis (N = 331) suggested that the developmental trajectories of creativity during early adolescence could be classified into three groups: low, moderate, and high. In addition, multinomial regression analyses (N = 293) showed that adolescents with higher perceived autonomy support or lower perceived psychological control were more likely to be grouped into the moderate-creativity group compared to the low-creativity group. These findings provide insights into the relationship between creativity in early adolescence and parental attitudes from the perspective of heterogeneous developmental trajectories.

Teacher autonomy support counters declining trend in intrinsic reading motivation across secondary school

Students’ intrinsic motivation to read, which is relevant to all forms of learning, tends to decline throughout secondary school. Based on self-determination theory (SDT), this study examines whether this downward trend is slowed when students perceive greater autonomy support in the classroom. We used large-scale panel data from the NEPS comprising N = 8193 students in Germany who reported their intrinsic motivation to read and their perceived autonomy support from German teachers at annual intervals from fifth to eighth grade. Scalar longitudinal measurement invariance was found for intrinsic reading motivation (IRM) and teacher autonomy support (TAS). A dual change score model showed a decline in IRM and a negative, non-significant decrease in TAS over time. Confirming our hypothesis, the decline in IRM was slowed by earlier levels of TAS. We discuss methods to counteract the decline in intrinsic reading motivation.

Student perceptions of teacher feedback quality in homework: Individual and class‐level factors

AbstractThis study aimed to examine multilevel models posited to predict student perceptions of teacher feedback quality. A cross‐sectional survey design was used, involving 1072 middle school students. We incorporated two clusters of variables: (a) student characteristics (gender, prior knowledge, parent education, homework expectancy, homework value, homework cost, and help seeking) and (b) the characteristics of the classroom context (perceived homework quality, autonomy support, and teacher monitoring). Perceived feedback quality was positively related to perceived autonomy support and homework quality at the individual and class levels. Meanwhile, perceived feedback quality was positively related to homework expectancy, homework value, and help seeking at the individual level.

Exploring autonomy support and learning preference in higher education: introducing a flexible and personalized learning environment with technology

Learner autonomy is particularly important in higher education, where students are fully responsible for their own learning. Despite this, there is a lack of research on aspects of autonomy support in higher education compared with that of primary and secondary education. To address this gap, this study explored autonomy support and learning preference in higher education, introducing a flexible and individualized learning environment with technology after the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted among 849 Japanese university students to gather their perceptions about autonomous support, learning preferences (face-to-face or distance), use of learning strategies, and academic performance (grade point average). Correlations were identified between certain variables: for example, perceived autonomy support, class format preference, and grade point average. The scores of different scales were compared among the subject groups. Autonomy support provided by instructors included explaining the lesson’s outline to students. A few teachers provided opportunities for students to select learning methods, teaching materials, and assignment content; yet, few instructors seemed to truly understand students’ learning needs. Although many participants took face-to-face courses, students’ learning preferences were evenly split between face-to-face and distance learning courses. Students who strongly preferred face-to-face learning performed well regardless of instructional format. Students with a little preference for distance education performed well, especially in distance education courses. Students with no preference performed the worst. This study suggests that a learning environment that provides students with options to suit their diverse learning preferences is beneficial and that introducing “hybrid-flexible” courses and feedback for students’ learning strategies has the potential to promote learner autonomy in higher education.

Academic Motivation of Elementary School Students Unearthing the Role of Teacher

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between teachers’ behaviour and students’ academic motivation. This research study employed a quantitative research design. The correlation research method was used to conduct the study. All the students studying in elementary classes of district Swabi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan) were the population for this study. Multi-stage sampling technique was used for the selection of 656 students from the population of 10930 students. Self-regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-A) and Perceived Autonomy Support (PAS) were used to collect data about students' academic motivation and students’ perception of their teacher’s behaviour, respectively. The study found that teachers’ autonomy-supportive behaviour had a moderate, positive, and significant relationship with students’ autonomous, intrinsic and identified academic motivation and a very weak correlation with students’ controlled academic motivation. It is recommended that the teachers adopt autonomy-supportive behaviour (i.e. students-centred approach) but they may avoid a controlled teaching style (i.e. teacher-centred approach) as it is considered one of the main reasons behind the dropping out of children from schools in KPK.

Effects of Students’ Autonomy Support on their Self-Regulated Learning Strategies: Three Field Experiments in Secondary Education

Providing students with autonomy over their learning process can support the development of their self-regulation skills. This study aimed to examine the effects of autonomy-support interventions on students’ self-regulated learning strategies. The participants were 432 students from three secondary schools in the Netherlands. In each school, a one-year field experiment was performed, in which teachers and students shared control over learning processes. At the start and end of the school year, students from both the experimental and control conditions completed a questionnaire on perceived autonomy support and self-regulation strategies used. Univariate analyses of covariance were performed to examine the effects of the interventions on perceived autonomy support and the use of self-regulated learning strategies. The intervention with the highest amount of student control showed positive effects on self-regulated learning strategies ‘task orientation’, ‘planning’, and ‘process evaluation’, although it did show a small decrease in perceived autonomy support. The other two interventions showed an increase in perceived autonomy support and a positive trend in ‘monitoring’. The field experiments suggest that different ways of supporting student autonomy can yield different effects on students’ self-regulated learning strategies. The tentative conclusion is that a focus on student control is the most effective.

Associations between Autonomy-Supportive Teaching, the Use of Non-Academic ICTs, and Student Motivation in English Language Learning

During puberty, children experience an increased need for autonomy in all areas of their lives, including school. However, teachers use different levels of autonomy-supportive teaching strategies, which might have detrimental effects on students’ perceived competence and—building on self-determination theory—motivation to learn. In this preregistered study, we investigated whether students could buffer the negative impact of little perceived autonomy support in the English-language classroom on their perceived competence and, consequently, two motivational outcomes (grade aspirations, intrinsic motivation) by using non-academic English-language ICTs in their free time. We calculated several (moderated) mediation models with a Bayesian estimator, using data from N = 1288 Austrian secondary school students who answered three online questionnaires between May 2022 and April 2023. The results showed that perceived competence predicts both types of motivation and is influenced by students’ use of non-academic English-language ICTs. However, the effects of autonomy-supportive teaching strategies depend on which variables are included in the models. Our study therefore highlights the importance of examining several aspects of autonomy-supportive teaching and including variables from outside the school to represent the complex environment in which students’ motivation is shaped.

The Influence of Study Interest, Perceived Autonomy Support, and Student Enthusiasm on Class-Related Boredom of English Majors

In Chinese universities, most English majors are taught by teachers, and students attend classes and do homework. Students are often passive in their study, which can make them lose study interest, negatively affect their study and cause boredom in class. Although previous studies have studied the class-related boredom of some English courses, they have not compared the level of it between different English courses. Besides, in previous studies, study interest and perceived autonomy support, two factors that affect class-related boredom, have received a lot of attention, while student enthusiasm has not received enough attention. Based on Control Value Theory, this study examines the degree of class-related boredom experienced by English majors in various English courses from the three factors including study interest, perceived autonomy support and student enthusiasm in an effort to diminish it in a more focused manner. The respondents are 884 English majors (94.1% female) from a university in Shanxi Province, China. And SPSS 26.0 is used for descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis. Studies show that Advanced English Listening has the lowest degree of class-related boredom, but Basic English has the highest one. This study also finds that study interest, perceived autonomy support and student enthusiasm in English major courses are significantly negatively correlated with class-related boredom.

An investigation into perceived autonomy support, motivation and competence in chronic pain patients in Ireland: A cross-sectional study.

Autonomy supportive healthcare settings are associated with enhanced behaviour change and self-management strategies in individuals living with chronic disease. The level of autonomy support provided by healthcare professionals to individuals living with chronic pain in Ireland is unknown. A cross-sectional study was completed on participants living with chronic pain (>3 months) in Ireland. Participants (n = 389) completed an anonymous survey constructed of patient reported outcome measures relating to autonomy support (HCCQ), motivation (TSRQ), competence in physical activity (PCS), pain interference (BPI) and psychological factors (PHQ-9, GAD-7). Results showed the median HCCQ (H = 39.287, p < .001), Autonomous Motivation (H = 13.568, p = 0.019) and PCS (H = 30.701, p < .001) scores were significantly different when patients received care from different healthcare professionals. There was a negative correlation between PCS and pain severity (r = -0.32, <0.01), pain interference (r = -0.44, p = <0.01), PHQ-9 (r = -0.50, p = <0.01) and GAD-7 (r = -0.34, p = <0.01). This study has identified that perceived healthcare support in Ireland varies according to the healthcare professional leading pain care. Furthermore, higher levels of self-determination were associated with decreased depression and anxiety in individuals with chronic pain. Given the limited number of multidisciplinary team clinics to provide pain management programs, an alternative cost-effective community led solution is required. The results of this study indicate that allied health professionals may be well placed to fill this void. Future research exploring the barriers to providing healthcare supportive settings is required.

Serbest Zaman Doyumunun Belirlenmesinde Egzersiz Ortamında Algılanan Özerklik Desteği ve Egzersizde Temel Psikolojik İhtiyaçların Rolü: Fitness Merkezleri Üzerine Bir Çalışma

Bu araştırmada; fitness merkezleri üyelerinin egzersiz ortamında algıladıkları özerklik desteği ve egzersizde temel psikolojik ihtiyaçlarının serbest zaman doyum düzeylerini yordaması incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu Ankara ve Konya illerinde faaliyet gösteren beş farklı fitness merkezinden amaçlı örneklem metoduyla seçilen, merkezlerinde en az 6 ay boyunca düzenli fiziksel etkinliklere katılan, gönüllü 164 kadın 235 erkek (Ortyaş= =22.28±1.94) oluşturmaktadır. Katılımcılara kişisel bilgi formu ve verilerin toplanması amacıyla ““Egzersiz Ortamında Eğitmenden Kaynaklanan Algılanan Özerlik Desteği Anketi” (EKAÖDA), “Egzersizde Temel Psikolojik İhtiyaçlar Ölçeği” (ETPİÖ) ve “Serbest Zaman Doyum Ölçeği” (SZDÖ) uygulanmıştır. Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre fitness merkezleri üyelerinde SZDÖ alt boyutu olan psikolojik doyum boyutu ile EKAÖD ve ETPİÖ alt boyutu olan yeterlik boyutunun pozitif yönde anlamlı olarak ilişkili olduğu görülmüştür. SZDÖ alt boyutları olan eğitimsel ve sosyal doyum boyutları ile EKAÖD ve ETPİÖ alt boyutları olan yeterlik ve ilişkisellik alt boyutlarının pozitif yönde anlamlı olarak ilişkili olduğu görülmüştür. SZDÖ alt boyutları olan rahatlama ve fiziksel doyum boyutları ile EKAÖD ve ETPİÖ alt boyutu olan ilişkisellik boyutunun pozitif yönde anlamlı olarak ilişkili olduğu görülmüştür.