Amy A Gorin1, Theodore A Powers2, Richard Koestner3, Rena R Wing4, Hollie A Raynor5. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. 3. Department of Psychology, McGill University. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. 5. Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Social support is believed to contribute to weight loss success, yet the type of support received is rarely assessed. To develop more effective weight loss interventions, examinations of the types of support that are associated with positive outcomes are needed. Self-Determination Theory suggests that support for an individual's autonomy is beneficial and facilitates internalization of autonomous self-regulation. We examined whether autonomy support and directive forms of support were associated with weight loss outcomes in a larger randomized controlled trial. METHOD: Adults (N = 201; 48.9± 10.5 years; 78.1% women) participating in a weight loss trial were assessed at 0, 6, and 18 months. Autonomy support (AS), directive support, and autonomous self-regulation (ASR) were measured at 0 and 6 months and examined in relation to 18-month weight loss outcomes. RESULTS: Baseline AS and ASR did not predict outcomes; however, AS and ASR at 6 months positively predicted 18-month weight losses (ps < .05), encouragement of healthy eating at 6 months was negatively related to 18-month weight losses (p < .01), and other forms of directive support were not associated with outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Autonomy support predicted better weight loss outcomes while some forms of directive support hindered progress. Weight loss trials are needed to determine whether family members and friends can be trained to provide autonomy support and whether this is more effective than programs targeting more general or directive forms of support.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Social support is believed to contribute to weight loss success, yet the type of support received is rarely assessed. To develop more effective weight loss interventions, examinations of the types of support that are associated with positive outcomes are needed. Self-Determination Theory suggests that support for an individual's autonomy is beneficial and facilitates internalization of autonomous self-regulation. We examined whether autonomy support and directive forms of support were associated with weight loss outcomes in a larger randomized controlled trial. METHOD: Adults (N = 201; 48.9 ± 10.5 years; 78.1% women) participating in a weight loss trial were assessed at 0, 6, and 18 months. Autonomy support (AS), directive support, and autonomous self-regulation (ASR) were measured at 0 and 6 months and examined in relation to 18-month weight loss outcomes. RESULTS: Baseline AS and ASR did not predict outcomes; however, AS and ASR at 6 months positively predicted 18-month weight losses (ps < .05), encouragement of healthy eating at 6 months was negatively related to 18-month weight losses (p < .01), and other forms of directive support were not associated with outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Autonomy support predicted better weight loss outcomes while some forms of directive support hindered progress. Weight loss trials are needed to determine whether family members and friends can be trained to provide autonomy support and whether this is more effective than programs targeting more general or directive forms of support.
Authors: Amy A Gorin; Hollie A Raynor; Joseph Fava; Kimberly Maguire; Erica Robichaud; Jennifer Trautvetter; Melissa Crane; Rena R Wing Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2012-02-06 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Albert G Crawford; Christine Cote; Joseph Couto; Mehmet Daskiran; Candace Gunnarsson; Kara Haas; Sara Haas; Somesh C Nigam; Rob Schuette Journal: Popul Health Manag Date: 2010-06 Impact factor: 2.459
Authors: Athena S Hagler; Gregory J Norman; Marion F Zabinski; James F Sallis; Karen J Calfas; Kevin Patrick Journal: Am J Health Behav Date: 2007 Jan-Feb
Authors: Leslee L Subak; Rena Wing; Delia Smith West; Frank Franklin; Eric Vittinghoff; Jennifer M Creasman; Holly E Richter; Deborah Myers; Kathryn L Burgio; Amy A Gorin; Judith Macer; John W Kusek; Deborah Grady Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2009-01-29 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Xavier Pi-Sunyer; George Blackburn; Frederick L Brancati; George A Bray; Renee Bright; Jeanne M Clark; Jeffrey M Curtis; Mark A Espeland; John P Foreyt; Kathryn Graves; Steven M Haffner; Barbara Harrison; James O Hill; Edward S Horton; John Jakicic; Robert W Jeffery; Karen C Johnson; Steven Kahn; David E Kelley; Abbas E Kitabchi; William C Knowler; Cora E Lewis; Barbara J Maschak-Carey; Brenda Montgomery; David M Nathan; Jennifer Patricio; Anne Peters; J Bruce Redmon; Rebecca S Reeves; Donna H Ryan; Monika Safford; Brent Van Dorsten; Thomas A Wadden; Lynne Wagenknecht; Jacqueline Wesche-Thobaben; Rena R Wing; Susan Z Yanovski Journal: Diabetes Care Date: 2007-03-15 Impact factor: 19.112
Authors: Johan Y Y Ng; Nikos Ntoumanis; Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani; Edward L Deci; Richard M Ryan; Joan L Duda; Geoffrey C Williams Journal: Perspect Psychol Sci Date: 2012-07
Authors: Brian E Saelens; S Sonia Arteaga; David Berrigan; Rachel M Ballard; Amy A Gorin; Tiffany M Powell-Wiley; Charlotte Pratt; Jill Reedy; Shannon N Zenk Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2018-04 Impact factor: 5.002
Authors: Talea Cornelius; Katelyn Gettens; Erin Lenz; Alexis C Wojtanowski; Gary D Foster; Amy A Gorin Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2018-06-21 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Kelly A Aschbrenner; Kim T Mueser; John A Naslund; Amy A Gorin; Stacey A Zawacki; Sarah I Pratt; Allison Kinney; Stephen Bartels Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2017-02-07
Authors: Kate E McSpadden; Heather Patrick; April Y Oh; Amy L Yaroch; Laura A Dwyer; Linda C Nebeling Journal: Appetite Date: 2015-08-29 Impact factor: 3.868