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Let’s be healthy together: Relational motivation for physical health is more effective for women

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Abstract

Four studies examined the role of relationally-autonomous reasons in health behavior (RARHs) and how gender moderates their association with health outcomes. Study 1 (n = 160) involved the development of a measure of RARHs. The results of a factor analysis distinguished RARHs from other types of health reasons. In Study 2, participants (n = 284) completed a survey assessing their relational reasons prior to taking assessments of their body composition and fitness level. In Study 3, participants (n = 577) completed an online survey assessing RARHs, self-construal and health behaviors. The results of Studies 2 and 3 showed that RARHs positively predicted healthy outcomes for females only. In Study 4, participants (n = 72) were asked to complete an online survey, attend an orientation session, keep track of their exercise and nutrition over the course of a week, and attend a follow-up session. The results revealed that having an exercise partner was positively associated with RARHs, and that this in turn predicted reported effort and progress outcomes at the follow-up session for females only. Implications for theories of motivation and gender differences are discussed.

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  1. Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, USA

    Jonathan S. Gore, Kayla Bowman, Chase Grosse & Linzy Justice

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Gore, J.S., Bowman, K., Grosse, C. et al. Let’s be healthy together: Relational motivation for physical health is more effective for women. Motiv Emot 40, 36–55 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-015-9523-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-015-9523-9

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