Cited by 1,154Motivation and Self-Concept in SportsBehavioral Health and InterventionsDiabetes Management and Education

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A meta-analysis of self-determination theory-informed intervention studies in the health domain: effects on motivation, health behavior, physical, and psychological health

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Ntoumanis, Nikos, Ng, Johan Y.Y., Prestwich, Andrew, Quested, Eleanor, Hancox, Jennie E., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie, Deci, Edward L., Ryan, Richard M., Lonsdale, Chris, Williams, Geoffrey C.·2021·Health Psychology Review

DOI 10.1080/17437199.2020.1718529

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Abstract

There are no literature reviews that have examined the impact of health-domain interventions, informed by self-determination theory (SDT), on SDT constructs and health indices. Our aim was to meta-analyse such interventions in the health promotion and disease management literatures. Studies were eligible if they used an experimental design, tested an intervention that was based on SDT, measured at least one SDT-based motivational construct, and at least one indicator of health behaviour, physical health, or psychological health. Seventy-three studies met these criteria and provided sufficient data for the purposes of the review. A random-effects meta-analytic model showed that SDT-based interventions produced small-to-medium changes in most SDT constructs at the end of the intervention period, and in health behaviours at the end of the intervention period and at the follow-up. Small positive changes in physical and psychological health outcomes were also observed at the end of the interventions. Increases in need support and autonomous motivation (but not controlled motivation or amotivation) were associated with positive changes in health behaviour. In conclusion, SDT-informed interventions positively affect indices of health; these effects are modest, heterogeneous, and partly due to increases in self-determined motivation and support from social agents.

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“High levels of autonomous motivation are associated with PA and health behaviour change maintenance (Ntoumanis et al., 2021; Teixeira et al., 2012).”
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“…to the environment, goal setting or action planning) known to be linked to long-term PA outcomes [18, 19], to foster self-deter-mined choices and the development of self-regulatory skills, seem to increase PA and well-being in general populations [20, 21] and breast cancer survivors [19, 22].”
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“Self-Determination Theory highlights that an individual’s autonomy, competence, and relatedness form the foundation of psychological well-being [20].”
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“27 Vargas-Tonsing, Myers, and Feltz 28 demonstrated that supportive, speci ﬁ c, and positive feedback increases general self-ef ﬁ cacy.”
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“This was supplemented by use of Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Organizational Development Theory and Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to enhance contextual understanding of implementation dynamics (24, 25).”
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“For example, a meta-analysis of SDT-based interventions reported that approaches supporting individuals’ sense of autonomy produced significant positive effects on HLB, and that increases in autonomous motivation-rather than controlling forms of motivation-better explained behaviour change [8, 38].”
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“For controlled motivation for exercise, groups with pronounced dissatisfaction (i.e., desire to increase or moderate/severe desire to reduce) will report higher levels compared to the satisfied group, and the interaction with sex will be explored [22,31].”
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“…was selected as the theoretical foundation of this study because it offers one of the most comprehensive frameworks for understanding why people initiate and sustain participation in sport activities and how different motivational regulations can be associated with psychological outcomes [14,15].”
User Acceptability and Adoption of AI-Generated Lifestyle Intervention Recommendations: Scoping Review and Theoretical Integration
Ma, M., Sui, T., Zhou, S., Shi, L., & Lau, P. W. C. (2026) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/93573 · Cited by 1
“Lifestyle change is supported by autonomous motivation and sustained engagement, with self-determination theory-informed evidence linking autonomous motivation to health behavior change [17].”
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“…and amotivation relate to mental ill-health (e.g., depression; e.g., Ng et al., 2012) and poor wellbeing (e.g., Ng et al., 2012), while autonomous motivation is associated with better mental health (e.g., less depressive symptoms; Ntoumanis et al., 2021) and wellbeing (Ryan et al., 1995).”
The analysis of the effect of satisfaction on telehealth utilization with a structural equation model
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Authors: Ntoumanis, N., Ng, J. Y. Y., Prestwich, A., Quested, E., Hancox, J. E., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M., Lonsdale, C., & Williams, G. C.
Affiliations: Curtin University (AU)
Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
University of Leeds (GB)
University of Nottingham (GB)
School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
University of South-Eastern Norway (NO)
Australian Catholic University (AU)
University of Rochester Medicine (US)
Corresponding author: Ntoumanis, Nikos
ORCID: Ntoumanis, Nikos
Ng, Johan Y.Y.
Prestwich, Andrew
Quested, Eleanor
Hancox, Jennie E.
Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
Deci, Edward L.
Ryan, Richard M.
Lonsdale, Chris
Williams, Geoffrey C.
Venue: Health Psychology Review
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2020-02-03
Volume: 15
Issue: 2
Pages: 214-244
ISSN: 1743-7199 (ISSN-L)
1743-7202
DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2020.1718529
OpenAlex: W3002054708
Cited by: 1,154
References: 118
Citations by year: 2026: 237 · 2025: 209 · 2024: 181 · 2023: 264 · 2022: 124 · 2021: 107 · 2020: 31
FWCI: 21.15
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: hybrid
doi.org
Licence: cc-by-nc-nd
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ (unspecified)
Locations: Health Psychology Review (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Education
Keywords: self-determination theory, health promotion, disease management, autonomous motivation, need support, controlled motivation, amotivation, health behavior, physical health, mental health
MeSH terms: Health Promotion, Humans, Mental Health, Motivation, Health Behavior, Personal Autonomy

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A meta-analysis of self-determination theory-informed intervention studies in the health domain: effects on motivation, health behavior, physical, and psychological health

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