title: Motivation, self-determination, and person-environment fit as predictors of psychological adjustment among nursing home residents.
abstract: In this report self-determination theory is applied to the regulation of everyday behavior in later life. Nursing home residents with more self-determined motivational orientations displayed higher levels of psychological adjustment. However, the effects of opportunities for self-determination available in the environment were less straightforward and were moderated by motivational styles. Specifically, residents with self-determined motivational styles were better adjusted when they lived in homes that provided opportunities for freedom and choice, whereas residents with less self-determined motivational styles were better adjusted when they lived in high constraint environments. The findings support person-environment fit models of adjustment in old age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Vallerand
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005610:Freedom; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012931:Social Environment