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.