title: Predicting psychological needs and well-being of individuals engaging in weight management: the role of important others.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using the self-determination theory (SDT) framework, we examined how significant others might support or thwart psychological needs of people with weight management goals, and in turn might affect their psychological well-being and weight control behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal design with three sets of questionnaires administered over a 6-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-six eligible participants (age = 31.01 ± 13.21 years) were asked to complete questionnaires of SDT-based constructs, weight management behaviors, and psychological well-being. Hypotheses were tested using Bayesian path analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived autonomy support from significant others was related to psychological need satisfaction, while controlling behaviors by others were associated with need thwarting. In turn, need satisfaction was associated with some beneficial outcomes such as life satisfaction, and need thwarting was related to some maladaptive outcomes such as higher levels of depressive symptoms and increases in unhealthy diet behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that the quality of interactions between individuals engaged in weight management and their significant others matters in terms of predicting the psychological needs and well-being of the former.
authors.affiliation: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Johan Y Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ntoumanis
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thøgersen-Ntoumani
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stott
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hindle
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Bayesian path analysis; autonomy support; controlling behaviors; psychological needs; psychological well-being