Basic need satisfaction and identity formation: Bridging self-determination theory and process-oriented identity research.

The fulfillment of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness as postulated within self-determination theory was hypothesized to play an energizing role in identity formation, conceptualized as multiple dimensions of exploration and commitment. Two studies among high school and college students (N = 714) were conducted to investigate (a) the cross-sectional relationships between need satisfaction and the identity dimensions and (b) the direction of effects using cross-lagged analyses. Three competing longitudinal models were tested: a need satisfaction main-effects model, an identity main-effects model, and a reciprocal effects model. All 3 needs had meaningful relationships with the identity dimensions, and, although there was a predominance of paths from the needs to the identity dimensions, the reciprocal effects model received most support. Further, identity statuses (representing multivariate combinations of the identity dimensions) were meaningfully related to satisfaction of the 3 needs, with identity achievement scoring highest on all 3 indices of need satisfaction. Suggestions for future research and counseling implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Facilitating intervention adherence in executive coaching: A model and methods.

A review of the recent literature demonstrated that there are virtually no articles or research papers on the subject of intervention adherence or compliance in executive coaching. This article begins to address that deficit by presenting an 8-component model of coaching effectiveness that includes such elements as the coach--and client--commitment to the path of progressive development, characteristics of client problems, structure of the coaching containment, quality of coaching interventions, and the intervention adherence protocol the coach develops with the client. These elements of coaching effectiveness are explored in more depth in the context of considering the outcome pathways of coaching assignments. Components of a possible adherence protocol for coaching executives are described along with major client and coach problems that contribute to nonadherence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tigers, stripes, and behavior change: Survey results of a commissioned coaching program.

This survey focused on the effectiveness of a coaching program commissioned by a global company for high potential employees who wanted to develop their emotional competence. Survey results indicated sustained learning and behavior change among program participants over an extended period. Successful outcomes appeared to be related to the careful scrutiny of program participants, a collaborative model, an insight-oriented coaching approach, and persistent efforts to brand the program as a developmental resource. This work also indicated areas of continued opportunity for consulting psychology to include: the developmental branding of coaching initiatives, the need for early career coaching, ways to connect coaching results to existing HR practices, how to deliver high impact coaching in cross-cultural settings, and the critical need for empirical research in the areas of coaching and organization-based consultation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of need fulfillment in relationship functioning and well-being: A self-determination theory perspective.

Self-determination theory posits 3 basic psychological needs: autonomy (feeling uncoerced in one's actions), competence (feeling capable), and relatedness (feeling connected to others). Optimal well-being results when these needs are satisfied, though this research has traditionally focused on individual well-being outcomes (e.g., E. L. Deci & R. M. Ryan, 2000). Three studies examined the role of need fulfillment in relationship functioning and well-being. Study 1 found that fulfillment of each need individually predicted both individual and relationship well-being, with relatedness being the strongest unique predictor of relationship outcomes. Study 2 found that both partners' need fulfillment uniquely predicted one's own relationship functioning and well-being. Finally, in Study 3, the authors used a diary recording procedure and tested a model in which the association between need fulfillment and relationship quality was mediated by relationship motivation. Those who experienced greater need fulfillment enjoyed better postdisagreement relationship quality primarily because of their tendency to have more intrinsic or autonomous reasons for being in their relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Goals, feedback, and self-regulation: Control theory as a natural framework for executive coaching.

The popularity of coaching continues to grow at a rate faster than research can validate coaching practices. Although strong research and theory on coaching have been emerging over the past few years, we believe that this body of literature would benefit from more integration of theory and application of organizing frameworks. The current paper seeks to contribute to the coaching literature by applying a Control Theory (CT) framework to elements of executive coaching. The two core elements of CT—goals and feedback—are also critical components of executive coaching. By applying a CT framework, we hope to provide both structure and new ideas regarding the roles of goals and feedback in executive coaching. We also suggest that one role of executive coaches is to help coaches become more effective self-regulators and effectively engage in goal setting and feedback seeking, among other things, in order to facilitate development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A longitudinal study of children's depressive symptoms, self-perceptions, and cognitive distortions about the self.

This longitudinal study examined how depressive symptoms relate to children's self-perceptions and to estimates of children's cognitive distortions about the self in a nonclinical sample of children who were followed from 4th grade (n=248) through 6th grade (n=227). Report card grades measured children's academic competence, and teachers' ratings of children's level of peer acceptance at school indicated social acceptance. Self-reported depressive symptoms predicted a change in children's negative views of the self. Moreover, the self-perceptions of children who exhibited more symptoms of depression appeared to reflect an underestimation of their actual competence. Children's negative self-perceptions and underestimations about the self were not associated with a subsequent change in depressive symptoms. The implications of the findings for cognitive theories of depression and future research with this population are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Academic motivation in university: The role of basic psychological needs and identity formation.

This study was an investigation of the relationship between psychological need fulfillment, psychosocial development, and academic motivation in university students. Two models were tested. The 1st model, derived from developmental theories, proposed that basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness would predict identity and intimacy achievement, which would, in turn, predict academic intrinsic motivation. A 2nd model, based on self-determination theory, proposed that identity and intimacy would predict academic motivation and that this relationship would be mediated by basic psychological needs. Results from path analyses supported the model derived from self-determination theory over the model derived from developmental theories. Competence and identity were found to be the 2 constructs most strongly associated with academic motivation. These findings support the view that identity formation plays a critical role in facilitating academic motivation in university. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of team building on exercise adherence and group task satisfaction in a youth activity setting.

Results from previous research have revealed a positive relationship between team building (TB) and several measures of adherence in adult exercise settings (Carron & Spink, 1993; Spink & Carron, 1993). However, research has yet to examine the efficacy of using a TB intervention to impact the exercise adherence of youth. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a TB intervention on specific adherence behaviors of youth in an exercise club setting. A second purpose was to investigate the effects of TB on participant's satisfaction with the group's functioning (group task satisfaction). Participants were 122 youth (13–17 years) participating in 10 rural, school-based exercise clubs. Clubs were randomized into five TB (n=65) and five control groups (n=57). Results revealed that following the introduction of the intervention, the two groups differed significantly on the adherence measure of session attendance but not on dropout behavior. Further, significant differences were found between the groups in group task satisfaction. The study findings extend previous TB research to a youth population and support TB as an effective group-based intervention to improve session attendance and group task satisfaction in an exercise setting in this population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Restoration process of the need for autonomy: The early alarm stage.

Autonomy is described by self-determination theory as a basic psychological need, essential for individuals' well-being. While basic needs are generally thought to induce a restorative response when thwarted, evidence for such a process is lacking for autonomy. To date, most evidence indicates that autonomy deprivation leads to disaffection of this need in favor of other motives. A temporal model based on the general adaptation syndrome was adapted to reconcile this seeming contradiction. Specifically, it is hypothesized that an early alarm response aimed at restoring the satisfaction of the need for autonomy should precede the later relinquishment and compensation of this need that would result from a prolonged deprivation. Three studies provide support for this model by showing the existence of the immediate autonomy restorative response. Using a controlling situation to manipulate autonomy deprivation, the authors demonstrate in Experiments 1 and 2 that a controlling context leads to enhanced accessibility and an approach bias for autonomy-related stimuli. Experiment 3 indicates that the urge to restore autonomy can also affect personal judgment, leading individuals to make more independent judgments, exercising a nonreactive form of autonomy. Integration of this model within self-determination theory is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Behavior modification and coaching: Principles, procedures, and research.

Reviews the book, Behavior Modification and coaching: Principles, procedures, and research edited by Garry L. Martin and Dennis Hrycaiko (1983). The book is intended primarily for physical education students, but should be useful for already practising coaches as well. It is divided into seven sections. The first two introduce the reader to behavioural principles and techniques as they apply to coaching. The second chapter, is a very concise review, whereas other chapters contain statements that beg for substantiation. Sections three and four illustrate applications with respect to skill and motivation. Section five introduces cognitive behavioural techniques that help alleviate anxiety and enhance performance under competitive conditions. The penultimate section is concerned with the performance of the coach, and the final chapter points to recent literature and directions for future research. For the readership to whom the book is addressed, the reviewer greatly suspects that many will find it strongly influential. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intentional self-regulation and positive youth development in early adolescence: Findings from the 4-h study of positive youth development.

In this research, the authors examined the development of intentional self-regulation in early adolescence, which was operationalized through the use of a measure derived from the model of selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC). This model describes the individual's contributions to mutually influential relations between the person and his or her context. Through use of data from a longitudinal sample of 5th and 6th graders who were participating in the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD), structural equation modeling procedure, reliability analyses, and assessments of convergent, divergent, and predictive validity suggested that a global, 9-item form of the SOC measure was a valid index of intentional self-regulation in early adolescence. Scores for this index of SOC were related to indicators of positive and negative development in predicted directions. The authors discuss the idea that self-regulation is a global process in early adolescence that contributes to PYD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of caring youth sport contexts on efficacy-related beliefs and social behaviors.

Understanding what factors influence positive youth development has been advocated by youth development researchers (P. L. Benson, 2006; J. S. Eccles & J. A. Gootman, 2002). Consequently, the purpose of this study was to examine whether perceptions of a caring youth sport context influenced prosocial and antisocial behavior through efficacy-related beliefs, that is, positive and negative affective self-regulatory efficacy (ASRE) and empathic self-efficacy (ESE). Multiethnic youths taking part in summer sport programs (N = 395) completed a questionnaire that measured perceptions of the caring climate, ESE, ASRE, and social behavior. Structural equation modeling was used to test whether ASRE and ESE mediated the relationship between caring and social behaviors. Findings revealed that perceptions of caring positively predicted ASRE and ESE. In turn, positive ASRE positively predicted ESE. Prosocial behaviors were positively linked to ESE, whereas antisocial behaviors were negatively predicted by positive ASRE. The results suggest that caring influences prosocial and antisocial behavior because such contexts develop youths' ability to monitor, manage, and control positive affect, which in turn enhances their belief in their ability to empathize. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health.

Self-determination theory (SDT) is an empirically based theory of human motivation, development, and wellness. The theory focuses on types, rather than just amount, of motivation, paying particular attention to autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and amotivation as predictors of performance, relational, and well-being outcomes. It also addresses the social conditions that enhance versus diminish these types of motivation, proposing and finding that the degrees to which basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are supported versus thwarted affect both the type and strength of motivation. SDT also examines people's life goals or aspirations, showing differential relations of intrinsic versus extrinsic life goals to performance and psychological health. In this introduction we also briefly discuss recent developments within SDT concerning mindfulness and vitality, and highlight the applicability of SDT within applied domains, including work, relationships, parenting, education, virtual environments, sport, sustainability, health care, and psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The impact of gender-role identity on women's self-esteem, lifestyle satisfaction and conflict.

541 female college students were screened on the Bem Sex-Role Inventory and the Attitudes Toward Women Scale. Ss scoring in the "feminine"/traditional (TD) or "masculine"/nontraditional (NNT) categories on both tests provided data on their self-esteem, lifestyle satisfaction, and anxiety/conflict over their TD/NNT life choices. TD Ss scored significantly lower on self-esteem and lifestyle satisfaction and higher on anxiety/conflict. Results were interpreted in terms of the differential (i.e., higher) social value attributed to masculine/NNT vs feminine/TD traits and behaviors. Furthermore, the value of intrinsic rewards that accrue to women who lead their lives according to their own preferences and beliefs, regardless of social costs, was explored. Demographically, in comparison to the TD Ss, the NNT Ss were older and were more likely to be married. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The dynamic goal theory of marital satisfaction.

Marital satisfaction is gaining increasing concern in modern society. The current review proposes the dynamic goal theory of marital satisfaction to integrate previous findings about marital satisfaction from a life span developmental perspective. The theory argues that people have multiple goals to achieve in their marriage. These marital goals can be classified into three categories: personal growth goals, companionship goals, and instrumental goals. The priority of the three types of marital goals is under dynamic changes across adulthood. Generally speaking, young couples emphasize the personal growth goals, middle-aged couples prioritize the instrumental goals, and old couples focus on the companionship goals. Whether the prioritized marital goals are achieved in marriage determines marital satisfaction. Other factors influencing marital satisfaction can be linked with marital goals in two ways. Some factors, such as life transitions and cultural values, can affect the priority of different marital goals; while other factors, such as communication pattern, problem solving, and attribution, can facilitate the achievement of the prioritized marital goals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of motivational interviewing-based health coaching on employees' physical and mental health status.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) based health coaching is a relatively new behavioral intervention that has gained popularity in public health because of its ability to address multiple behaviors, health risks, and illness self-management. In this study, 276 employees at a medical center self-selected to participate in either a 3-month health coaching intervention or control group. The treatment group showed significant improvement in both SF-12 physical (p = .035) and mental (p = .0001) health status compared to controls. Because of concerns of selection bias, a matched case-control analysis was also performed, eliciting similar results. These findings suggest that MI-based health coaching is effective in improving both physical and mental health status in an occupational setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intimate partner violence and children's reaction to peer provocation: The moderating role of emotion coaching.

The current study examined the relation between intimate partner violence (IPV) and children's reactions to a stressful peer interaction in a community-based sample. The moderating role of parental emotion coaching in buffering children from negative reactions to a peer was also examined. Children participated in a peer provocation paradigm and mothers completed the Parent Meta-Emotion Interview. Both adaptive (i.e., laughing, ignoring) and maladaptive (i.e., hostile/challenging, odd behaviors) reactions to the provocative peer were examined. IPV was positively related to children's laughing and odd behaviors but was unrelated to ignoring and hostile/challenging behaviors. Additionally, emotion coaching was found to moderate relations between IPV and children's laughing and odd behaviors. The importance of understanding protective factors in families experiencing IPV and of developing emotion coaching parenting programs is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The importance of a common in-group identity in ethnically diverse groups.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a common in-group identity in attenuating the negative effects of ethnic dissimilarity. Specifically, it was hypothesized that a common in-group identity would moderate the relationship between ethnic dissimilarity and satisfaction with coworkers. Data were gathered from 87 persons working in groups. Moderated regression analysis provided support for the hypothesis, in that when a common in-group identity was not present, demographic dissimilarity was related to less satisfaction, but when a common in-group identity was present, there was a positive relationship between ethnic dissimilarity and coworker satisfaction. Further, for ethnically dissimilar persons, coworker satisfaction was higher when a common in-group identity was present than when it was not. Results are discussed in relation to the study's contribution to social psychology and diversity management literature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trajectories of affective states in adolescent hockey players: Turning point and motivational antecedents.

This study examined longitudinal trajectories of positive and negative affective states with a sample of 265 adolescent elite hockey players followed across 3 measurement points during the 1st 11 weeks of a season. Latent class growth modeling, incorporating a time-varying covariate and a series of predictors assessed at the onset of the season, was used to chart out distinct longitudinal trajectories of affective states. Results provided evidence for 3 trajectories of positive affect and 3 trajectories of negative affect. Two of these trajectories were deflected by team selection, a seasonal turning point occurring after the 1st measurement point. Furthermore, the trajectories of positive and negative affective states were predicted by theoretically driven predictors assessed at the start of the season (i.e., self-determination, need satisfaction, athletic identity, and school identity). These results contribute to a better understanding of the motivational, social, and identity-related processes associated with the distinct affective trajectories of athletes participating in elite sport during adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)