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Self-determination theory and weight loss in a Diabetes Prevention Program translation trial

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Abstract

We examined self-determination theory (SDT) and weight loss, and hypothesized that the Diabetes Prevention Program’s (DPP) intervention would result in an increase in autonomous regulation of motivation (AR) in participants. Further, that those with higher AR, and those who perceived educators as supporting SDT-defined needs, would lose more weight. Support, Health Information, Nutrition and Exercise (SHINE) Study data (N = 257) were analyzed. SHINE was a randomized, controlled DPP translation trial (2-years, telephonic, primary care staff). Autonomous motivation in males increased significantly, while females showed no change. Males with high AR, but not females, lost more weight. However, the significance of these relationships varied over time. Participants who perceived educators as more supportive of psychological needs lost more weight (especially males). However, effect of support on weight loss was not mediated by AR change. Autonomous motivation and educator support are relevant to male weight loss. Future research might develop interventions to enhance autonomous motivation and educator support, and understand change pathways.

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Acknowledgements

We thank our participants, their primary care providers, the health care professionals who served as educators and our dietitian coaches. We also thank Philip Morin, MS, for his many contributions to the success of the study, Julie J. Stone, RN, for performing the participant assessments, and Jane D. Bulger, MS, CCRC, and Michael J. Wade, MS, for facilitating data collection and data entry. This study was supported by Grant R18-DK078553 from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Paula M. Trief

  2. Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Donald Cibula

  3. Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Linda M. Delahanty

  4. Department of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Ruth S. Weinstock

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  1. Paula M. Trief
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Correspondence to Paula M. Trief.

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Conflict of interest

Paula M. Trief, Donald Cibula, Linda M. Delahanty and Ruth S. Weinstock declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights and Informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Trief, P.M., Cibula, D., Delahanty, L.M. et al. Self-determination theory and weight loss in a Diabetes Prevention Program translation trial. J Behav Med 40, 483–493 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-016-9816-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-016-9816-9

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