title: Perceived autonomy support, motivation regulations and the self-evaluative tendencies of student dancers.
abstract: Limited research has considered the social-environmental and motivational processes predictive of self evaluations and body-related concerns. Evidence suggests that low self-esteem, poor body evaluations, and associated anxieties are particularly prevalent among the student dance population. Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), this study examined the relationships among perceptions of autonomy support, motivation regulations, and self-evaluations of body-related concerns in the context of vocational dance. Three hundred and ninety-two dancers completed questionnaires regarding their perceptions of autonomy support in their dance school, reasons for engaging in dance, self-esteem, social physique anxiety (SPA), and body dissatisfaction. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that perceived autonomy support predicted intrinsic motivation (+) and amotivation (-). Extrinsic regulation positively predicted SPA. Amotivation mediated the associations between perceptions of autonomy support and dancers' self-esteem, SPA, and body dissatisfaction. The utility of SDT in understanding predictors of self-worth, physical evaluations, and associated concerns was supported. Moreover, this study provides preliminary evidence supporting the applicability of SDT in dance contexts.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, UK. e.j.quested@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quested
authors.forename: Joan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Duda
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003615:Dancing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009042:Motivation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult