Thesis
Perceptions of autonomy support, autonomous motivation and perceived competence in minority and white/Caucasian college students: utilizing self determination theory model of health behavior change
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101824
Abstract
Minority groups in the United States experience poorer health outcomes and exhibit higher rates of involvement in risky health behaviors. Behavioral change can be difficult and requires considerable willingness and determination on the part of the individual. According to Self Determination Theory (SDT), behavior change is more effective and sustainable when patients perceive their health care practitioner to be autonomy supportive, which facilitates greater autonomous motivation and perceived competence. To date, SDT research with college students has been confined to White/Caucasian groups. The present study addressed this gap in the literature by testing the SDT model across minority (n = 272) and White/Caucasian (n = 242) students within a health care context. The purpose of this study was to examine whether: 1) the mean level for perceived autonomy support, autonomous motivation and perceived competence would be lower for minority students, controlling for covariates; 2a) autonomous motivation mediated the relationship between perceived autonomy support and perceived competence; 2b) perceived competence mediated the relationship between perceived autonomy support and autonomous motivation; and 3) the mediated relations between perceived autonomy support and perceived competence was moderated by minority status. Results indicated: 1) a statistically significant difference with a small effect size represented a higher mean level for minority students on perceived autonomy support but not on autonomous motivation or perceived competence; 2a) partial and complete support for the mediation models as viable paths; 3) a moderated mediation analysis did not support minority status as a moderator of the relations between perceived autonomy support and perceived competence. The findings with respect to SDT's principles of universality suggest the relations between the SDT constructs are generally invariant across minority status.
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Details
- Title
- Perceptions of autonomy support, autonomous motivation and perceived competence in minority and white/Caucasian college students
- Creators
- Senait Tekle
- Contributors
- Rayna Sage (Co-Chair)Brittany Leigh Rhoades Cooper (Co-Chair) - Washington State University, Human Development, Department ofAnne Elizabeth Cox (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Department of Kinesiology and Educational Psychology
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Human Development, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Number of pages
- 73
- Identifiers
- 99900525375301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis