| Popis: |
Background: Unhealthy eating behaviours and low levels of physical activity are a major problem in adolescents and young adults in vocational education. In order to develop effective intervention programmes, more research is needed to understand how different types of motivation contribute to health behaviours. In the present study the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is used as a framework to examine how motivation contributes to dietary and physical activity behaviours in Vocational Education & Training (VET) students.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 809 students (mean age 17.8 ± 1.9 years) attending VET in the Netherlands. The Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ) for diet and physical activity, the Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health- enhancing physical activity (SQUASH) and the Dutch Public Health Monitor questionnaire were used to asses type of motivation, physical activity and dietary behaviour. Linear multilevel regression analyses were used to investigate the association between type of motivation and dietary and physical activity behaviours. Results: Amotivation was negatively associated with breakfast frequency and was positively associated with diet soda consumption and the number of unhealthy products consumed per week. A positive association was found between autonomous motivation and water intake, breakfast frequency, fruit intake and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Autonomous motivation was negatively associated with the consumption of unhealthy products. Controlled motivation was not associated with physical activity or dietary behaviours.Conclusion: Type of motivation according to SDT seems to partly explain dietary and physical activity behaviours in VET students. Autonomous motivation in particular was shown to be associated with healthy behaviours and could therefore be a valuable intervention target. |
