Testing a self-determination theory intervention for motivating tobacco cessation: supporting autonomy and competence in a clinical trial.
A longitudinal randomized trial tested the self-determination theory (SDT) intervention and process model of health behavior change for tobacco cessation (N = 1006). Adult smokers were recruited for a study of smokers' health and were assigned to intensive treatment or community care. Participants were relatively poor and undereducated. Intervention patients perceived greater autonomy support and reported greater autonomous and competence motivations than did control patients. They also reported greater medication use and significantly greater abstinence. Structural equation modeling analyses confirmed the SDT process model in which perceived autonomy support led to increases in autonomous and competence motivations, which in turn led to greater cessation. The causal role of autonomy support in the internalization of autonomous motivation, perceived competence, and smoking cessation was supported.
Williams
Geoffrey C
GC
Department of Medicine.
McGregor
Holly A
HA
Department of Clinical and Social Science in Psychology.
Sharp
Daryl
D
Department of Clinical and Social Science in Psychology.
Levesque
Chantal
C
Department of Psychology.
Kouides
Ruth W
RW
Department of Medicine.
Ryan
Richard M
RM
Department of Clinical and Social Science in Psychology.
Deci
Edward L
EL
0000-0001-8246-8536
Department of Clinical and Social Science in Psychology.
D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009518:New York; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*