Subjective psychological distress among young adults: the role of global and contextual levels of selfdetermined motivation
Part of : Hellenic journal of psychology ; Vol.6, No.2, 2009, pages 145-168
Issue:
Pages:
145-168
Section Title:
Self-determination theory, physical activity, and well-being
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to contrast two perspectives on the linkages between levels of selfdetermined motivation and subjective psychological distress. The first perspective posits that global selfdetermined motivation (i.e., a trait) is more negatively related to psychological distress than contextual selfdetermined motivations in leisure, interpersonal relationships, and education. The second perspective, in contrast, posits that self-determined motivation in these three contexts are more negatively related to subjective psychological distress than global self-determined motivation. Participants were 1039 college students who collaborate to a five-year prospective study. Results from structural equation modeling provided more support for the second perspective than for the first one. Discussion centers on the theoretical and practical implications of the results.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
contextual levels of motivation, global levels of motivation, self-determination, subjective psychological distress
