TY - JOUR

T1 - Volition and motivations influence on weight maintenance

AU - Elsborg, Peter

AU - Nielsen, Johan Bundgaard

AU - Pfister, Gertrud Ursula

AU - Dümer, Vivian

AU - Jacobsen, Anette

AU - Elbe, Anne-Marie

N1 - CURIS 2019 NEXS 140

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how the psychological constructs volition and motivation influence successful and unsuccessful weight maintainers’ experiences during the difficult period following an intensive lifestyle intervention. Design / methodology / approach: Post lifestyle intervention semi-structured interviews with 11 successful and four unsuccessful weight maintainers were conducted. Findings: The eight themes that emerged and the differences between successful and unsuccessful maintainers were theoretically explained applying the self-determination theory (motivation) and the personal systems interaction (volition).Practical implications: The study validates and coheres with previous findings on the importance of self-regulation and autonomous motivation for weight loss maintenance. Additionally, the study’s findings expand the literature by explaining both empirically and theoretically how the quality of motivation concerning an activity influences the level of volitional intensity needed when wanting to either engage in goal oriented or refrain from goal opposing activities.Originality / value: Developing effective obesity interventions has become essential, as obesity is a growing health threat in most countries in the world. However, there is a gap in the literature with regards to qualitative psychological studies with a clear theoretical framework informing intervention development.

AB - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how the psychological constructs volition and motivation influence successful and unsuccessful weight maintainers’ experiences during the difficult period following an intensive lifestyle intervention. Design / methodology / approach: Post lifestyle intervention semi-structured interviews with 11 successful and four unsuccessful weight maintainers were conducted. Findings: The eight themes that emerged and the differences between successful and unsuccessful maintainers were theoretically explained applying the self-determination theory (motivation) and the personal systems interaction (volition).Practical implications: The study validates and coheres with previous findings on the importance of self-regulation and autonomous motivation for weight loss maintenance. Additionally, the study’s findings expand the literature by explaining both empirically and theoretically how the quality of motivation concerning an activity influences the level of volitional intensity needed when wanting to either engage in goal oriented or refrain from goal opposing activities.Originality / value: Developing effective obesity interventions has become essential, as obesity is a growing health threat in most countries in the world. However, there is a gap in the literature with regards to qualitative psychological studies with a clear theoretical framework informing intervention development.

KW - Exercise

KW - Lifestyle behaviours

KW - Motivation (psychology)

KW - Physical activity

KW - Psychology

KW - Self-regulation

KW - Weight loss

U2 - 10.1108/HE-04-2018-0023

DO - 10.1108/HE-04-2018-0023

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85063958943

VL - 119

SP - 115

EP - 132

JO - Health Education

JF - Health Education

SN - 0965-4283

IS - 2

ER -