Motivation and dietary self-care in adults with diabetes: Are self-efficacy and autonomous self-regulation complementary or competing constructs?

This study examined constructs drawn from social-cognitive theory (A. Bandu ra, 1986) and self-determination theory (E. L. Deci & R. M. Ryan, 1985, 199 1) in relation to dietary self-care and life satisfaction among 638 individ uals with diabetes. A motivational model of diabetes dietary self-care was proposed, which postulates direct links between self-efficacy/autonomous se lf-regulation, and adherence/life satisfaction. Structural equation modelin g showed that both self-efficacy and autonomous self-regulation were associ ated with adherence (beta s = .54 and .21, respectively) and with life sati sfaction (beta s = .15 and .34, respectively). Constraint analyses confirme d that self-efficacy was significantly more associated with adherence, wher eas autonomous self-regulation was significantly more associated with life satisfaction. According to the model, interventions for dietary self-care a nd life satisfaction should focus on increasing self-efficacy and autonomou s self-regulation.