Predictors of psychological well-being during behavioral obesity treatment in women

This study examined the association of autonomy-related variables,including exercise motivation,with psychological well-being and quality of life,during obesity treatment. middle-aged overweight/obese women (n=239) participated in a 1-year behavioral program and completed questionnaires measuring need support,general self-determination,and exercise and treatment motivation. general and obesity-specific health-related quality of life (hrqol),self-esteem,depression,and anxiety were also assessed. results showed positive correlations of self-determination and perceived need support with hrqol and self-esteem,and negative associations with depression and anxiety (p<.001). treatment autonomous motivation correlated positively with physical (p=.004) and weight-related hrqol (p<.001),and negatively with depression (p=.025) and anxiety (p=.001). exercise autonomous motivation was positively correlated with physical hrqol (p<.001),mental hrqol (p=.003),weight-related hrqol (p<.001),and self-esteem (p=.003),and negatively with anxiety (p=.016). findings confirm that self-determination theory's predictions apply to this population and setting,showing that self-determination,perceived need support,and autonomous self-regulation positively predict hrqol and psychological well-being. © 2011 paulo n. vieira et al.