Can Self-Determination Explain Dietary Patterns Among Adults at Risk of or with Type 2 Diabetes? A Cross-Sectional Study in Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas in Stockholm

Are Caregivers' Feeding Competence and Autonomy Associated with Healthier Restaurant Food Purchases for Their Child at Fast Food or Counter Service Restaurants? A Cross-Sectional Study in a Diverse Sample of U.S. Caregivers

This study examined the cross-sectional relationship between caregivers' perceived competence and autonomy (as defined by the Self-Determination Theory) and their fast food or counter service restaurant food purchases (side dishes, beverage, and dessert) for their child. A U.S. national convenience sample of caregivers with at least one 3-12-year-old child completed an online survey with questions adapted from the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory that measured perceived competence and autonomy for feeding fruits and vegetables and limiting sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and desserts. The survey included four questions asking about their fast food or counter service restaurant food purchases (side dish, beverage, and dessert). We applied logistic and multinomial logistic regression models to examine the associations between competence or autonomy and restaurant orders. Competence and autonomy were associated with ordering fruits and vegetables as side dishes (OR [95% CI], 1.14 [1.06, 1.24] and 1.09 [1.03, 1.14], respectively). However, higher competence was also associated with ordering desserts at restaurants and higher autonomy was associated with lower odds of ordering water. These findings will inform interventions and programs that aim to support caregivers' psychological needs, like competence and autonomy, to promote supportive environments and healthier restaurant purchases for their children.

Motivational determinants of physical activity in disadvantaged populations with (pre)diabetes: a cross-cultural comparison

Background

Understanding motivational determinants of physical activity (PA) is essential to guide the implementation of PA at individual and population level. Knowledge about the cross-cultural generalizability of these determinants is lacking and they have mostly been studied as separate factors. This study compares a motivational process model across samples from diverse populations with, or at risk of diabetes.

Methods

Measurement invariance of barrier identified regulation, barrier self-efficacy and social support was assessed in a rural Ugandan sample (n = 712) and disadvantaged samples with high proportions of immigrants in urban South Africa (n = 566) and Sweden (n = 147). These motivational determinants were then compared through multigroup structural equation modeling.

Results

The studied motivational constructs showed scalar invariance. Latent mean levels of perceived social support and barrier self-efficacy were lower in South Africa and Sweden. Structural models (for different PA outcomes) were not consistent across settings except for the association between perceived social support and identified regulation. Identified regulation was only associated with vigorous PA in Uganda and with moderate PA in South Africa. The association between social support and PA outcomes ranged from weak to not significant and the association between self-efficacy and PA was not significant. Self-reported PA was highest in Uganda and lowest in Sweden. Self-reported vigorous PA was significantly related to lower hemoglobin A1c levels, while moderate PA was not.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that: 1) it is feasible to compare a motivational process model across diverse settings; 2) there is lower perceived social support and self-efficacy in the urban, migrant samples; 3) identified regulation is a more promising determinant of PA than self-efficacy or social support in these populations; 4) associations between motivational determinants and PA depend on the perceived type and/or intensity of PA; 5) perceived relatedness functions as a basic psychological need across diverse settings; and 6) people’s perception of the PA they perform depends on their perceived level of intensity of PA which would have major implications for health promotion.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-12539-9.

Measuring self-regulation after nutrition education modules with Self Determination Theory (SDT) intervention among teachers with or at Risk Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to measure changes in autonomy in groups that have been given nutrition education by applying the SDT concept.

METHODS

The non-randomized pre-post intervention study design involved 63 teachers in the intervention group and 60 teachers in the control group. Nutrition education by applying the SDT concept and measurement is carried out using the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TRSQ).

RESULTS

The results showed that there was a significant change in support autonomy in the intervention group (p=0.034) and not in the control group. Controlled variables and amotivation did not show significant differences in the two groups, but changes for the better occurred in the intervention group.

CONCLUSION

The application of the SDT concept can increase support for autonomy. This is expected to support sustainable behavior change.