@article{nokey, title = {A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.}, author = {Legate and Nguyen and Weinstein and Moller and Legault and Adamkovic and many more and Zahra.}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.211109111}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-05-27}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, number = {119 ( 22 ) e2111091119}, abstract = {Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges.}, keywords = {motivation}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{nokey, title = {Testing an Online Program to Foster Need Crafting During the COVID-19 Pandemic}, author = {Nele Laporte and Daphne van den Bogaard and Katrijn Brenning and Bart Soenens and Maarten Vansteenkiste}, url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359517070_Testing_an_Online_Program_to_Foster_Need_Crafting_During_the_COVID-19_Pandemic}, doi = {10.1007/s12144-022-03012-2}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-03-28}, urldate = {2022-03-28}, journal = {Current Psychology}, abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic represents a threat not only to individuals’ physical health but also to their mental health. Self-Determination Theory assumes that the satisfaction of basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness and competence promotes psychological well-being during destabilizing times. Yet, the pandemic seriously hampered individuals’ opportunities to satisfy their needs. The current study provides a preliminary test of the effectiveness of a 7-session online program, LifeCraft, that promotes individuals’ proactive attempts to uplift their need-based experiences (i.e., need crafting). Next to the effects on individuals’ need crafting skills, we examined program-effects on adults’ need-based experiences and mental health and we explored the role of participants’ program engagement. An experimental study among 725 Belgian adults [Mage = 51.67 (range = 26 – 85); 68.55% female] was conducted, with an experimental condition of 252 and a control condition of 473 participants. At the level of the entire sample, there was limited evidence for the effectiveness of the program. There were only small immediate program-effects on need crafting and well-being. After taking into account the role of program engagement, findings showed that the program was more beneficial for participants who actively participated, with these participants reporting immediate and stable increases in need crafting, need satisfaction and well-being and decreases in need frustration. Further, changes in need crafting fully mediated changes in need-based experiences and well-being. To conclude, the findings provide initial evidence for the effectiveness of LifeCraft during the COVID-19 pandemic, with active participation being a prerequisite for the program to be effective.}, keywords = {need crafting}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{nokey, title = {Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year: Assessing people’s Expectations regarding Christmas Gathering in Pandemic Times}, author = {Joachim Waterschoot and Sofie Morbée and Omer Van den Bergh and Maarten Vansteenkiste }, year = {2022}, date = {2022-03-22}, urldate = {2022-03-22}, journal = {European Journal of Health Psychology}, abstract = {Background. In November 2020, many European governments imposed severe limitations on social contacts and festive gatherings to avoid a further outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims. At the moment when it was still unclear whether Christmas gatherings would be allowed, the present vignette study was conducted to evaluate four hypothetical scenarios varying in restrictiveness (i.e., 1, 2, 4, or an unlimited number of visitors). Method. In total, 5756 Belgian participants (65.7% female; Mage = 45.6, range: 18-89) evaluated each scenario in terms of the perceived strictness, probability of adherence, and expected psychological advantages (i.e., autonomy, relatedness, pleasure) and disadvantages (i.e., concerns). Results. Evidence for a curvilinear pattern was found, such that the expected psychological benefits increased with an increasing number of allowed visitors till 4, with this effect being reversed in case of an unlimited gathering. Yet, these main effects were qualified: Older adults, those living together, and those scoring high on risk perception and autonomous motivation to adhere to the corona measures expected the more restrictive scenarios to be equally beneficial compared to the more relaxed scenarios. Limitations. Limitations are self-selection of the sample, no counterbalancing of the scenario’s and the vignette-based methodology. Conclusion. The present findings suggest that people’s risk perception and autonomous motivation are key to secure and stimulate the acceptance of life-restricting measures.}, keywords = {motivation, well-being}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{nokey, title = {The relation between conspiracism, government trust, and COVID-19 vaccination intentions: The key role of motivation}, author = {Pascaline Van Oost and Vincent Yzerbyt and Mathias Schmitz and Maarten Vansteenkiste and Olivier Luminet and Sofie Morbée and Omer Van den Bergh and Joachim Waterschoot and Olivier Klein}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953622002325}, year = {2022}, date = {2022-03-17}, urldate = {2022-03-17}, journal = {Social Science & Medicine}, abstract = {Rationale. Vaccination willingness is a critical step in the effort to reach herd immunity and control the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, many people remain reluctant to be vaccinated. Objective Integrating the literature on Self-Determination Theory, trust in authorities, and conspiracy theories, this research examines (a) the direct and indirect effect of government trust and conspiracism via underlying forms of motivations for (not) getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and (b) whether these associations differ across the two largely politically independent Belgian linguistic groups. Methods Using Structural Equation Modeling, we tested our models in two independent samples, in February 2021 (T1) and April 2021 (T2) (Total N = 8264). Results At T1 and T2, Government trust and conspiracism both predict COVID-19 vaccination intention, respectively positively and negatively. These relations are fully mediated by motivational factors, with identified motivations having a larger positive contribution. Looking at linguistic context, differences emerge at T2, with French-speaking Belgians showing lower levels of government trust and higher levels of conspiracism than Dutch speakers. Conclusions Results highlight the importance of integrating distal (trust in government, conspiracism) and proximal (motivational) variables to understand vaccination intentions.}, keywords = {motivation, vaccination}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{nokey, title = {Emotion Regulation in Times of COVID-19: A Person-Centered Approach Based on Self-Determination Theory}, author = {Joachim Waterschoot and Sofie Morbée and Branko Vermote and Katrijn Brenning and Nele Flamant and Maarten Vansteenkiste and Bart Soenens}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-021-02623-5}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-12-09}, urldate = {2021-12-09}, journal = {Journal of Current Psychology}, abstract = {Although the COVID-19 crisis is a worldwide threat to individuals’ physical health and psychological well-being, not all people are equally susceptible to increased ill-being. One potentially important factor in individuals’ vulnerability (versus resilience) to ill- being in the face of stress is emotion regulation. On the basis of Self-Determination Theory, this study examined the role of three emotion regulation styles in individuals’ mental health during the COVID-19 crisis, that is, integration, suppression, and dysregulation. Participants were 6584 adults (77 % female, M age = 45.16 years) who filled out well-validated measures of emotion regulation, depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and sleep quality. To examine naturally occurring combinations of emotion regulation strategies, hierarchical k-means clustering was performed, yielding 3 profiles: (a) low scores on all strategies (indicating rather low overall levels of worry; 27%), (b) high scores on integration only (41%), and (c) high scores on suppression and dysregulation (33%). Participants in the profiles scoring high on suppression and dysregulation displayed a less favorable pattern of outcomes (high ill-being, low life satisfaction, and poorer sleep quality) compared to the other two groups. Between- cluster differences remained significant even when taking into account the corona- related worries experienced by people. Overall, the findings underscore the important role of emotion regulation in individuals’ mental health during mentally challenging periods such as the COVID-19 crisis. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.}, keywords = {well-being}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{nokey, title = {The role of daily need crafting in daily fluctuations in adolescents’ need-based and affective experiences}, author = {Nele Laporte and Bart Soenens and Nele Flamant and Maarten Vansteenkiste and Elien Mabbe and Katrijn Brenning }, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11031-021-09921-2}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-12-02}, journal = {Motivation and Emotion}, abstract = {Based on self-determination theory, this diary study examined associations between adolescents’ daily need crafting and daily fluctuations in their need-based and affective experiences. We also examined the role of daily perceived autonomy-supportive parenting in adolescents’ daily need-crafting. Adolescents (N = 159; Mage = 15.56; 62% female) filled out a diary for seven consecutive days. Multilevel path analyses indicated that need crafting varied on a day-to-day basis, with daily need crafting relating positively to daily positive affect and negatively to negative affect. The benefits of daily need crafting were accounted for by higher daily need satisfaction and lower need frustration. Further, on days adolescents perceived more parental autonomy support, they reported more need satisfaction and less need frustration, an effect that was partially due to higher need crafting that day. Overall, the results suggest that need crafting represents a critical pro-active skill, with resulting benefits for adolescents’ daily need-based experiences and well-being.}, keywords = {need crafting}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{nokey, title = {Predicting Vaccine Uptake during COVID-19 Crisis: A Motivational Approach}, author = {Mathias Schmitz and Olivier Luminet and Olivier Klein and Sofie Morbée and Omer Van den Bergh and Pascaline Van Oost and Joachim Waterschoot and Vincent Yzerbyt and Maarten Vansteenkiste}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X21015425}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-12-01}, urldate = {2021-12-01}, journal = {Journal of Vaccine}, abstract = {The present research examined which motivational factors contribute to individuals’ intention to take a vaccine that protects against SARS-CoV-2-virus and their self-reported vaccine uptake several months later. The role of different types of motivation was investigated (i.e., autonomous and controlled regulation) as well as vaccine distrust and effort to obtain a vaccine. Across two large-scale cross-sectional (N = 8887) and longitudinal (N = 6996) studies and controlling for various covariates, autonomous motivation and distrust- based amotivation contributed positively and negatively, respectively, to a) concurrent vaccination intentions, b) self-reported vaccination and c) subsequent subscription to a waitlist to obtain a vaccine. Participants’ infection-related risk perception predicted more positive vaccination outcomes through fostering greater autonomous motivation for vaccination and lower distrust, whereas pandemic-related health concerns failed to yield such adaptive effects. The results emphasize the importance of fostering autonomous motivation for vaccination and handling distrust, both at the societal and face-to-face level.}, keywords = {vaccination}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{morbee2021adherence, title = {Adherence to COVID-19 measures: The critical role of autonomous motivation on a short-and long-term basis}, author = {Sofie Morbée and Branko Vermote and Joachim Waterschoot and Lisa Dieleman and Bart Soenens and Omer Van den Bergh and Richard Ryan and Janne Vanhalst and Gert-Jan De Muynck and Maarten Vansteenkiste}, url = {https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-95518-001}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000250}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-10-25}, urldate = {2021-10-25}, journal = {Motivation Science}, volume = {Advance online publication}, abstract = {To limit the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2-virus, governments worldwide have introduced behavioral measures that require considerable effort from their citizens to adhere to. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the present research sought to examine in a study among Belgian citizens the cross-sectional (total N = 45975, Mage = 50.42), week-to-week (subsample 1; N = 981, Mage = 41.32), and long-term (subsample 2; N = 5643, Mage = 53.09) associations between various individual motives to follow government guidelines and their self-reported adherence to these measures. Controlling for COVID-specific concerns and perceived risk for infection, autonomous motivation related positively to citizens’ concurrent adherence (total sample), their increased week-to-week adherence during the lockdown (subsample 1), and their persistent adherence during an exit phase (subsample 2). Introjected regulation and external regulation were positively and negatively associated with concurrent adherence, respectively, but had no long-term predictive value. The findings indicate that citizens’ autonomous motivation is a robust predictor of adherence, suggesting that politicians, policymakers, and experts do well to adopt a communication style that ongoingly fosters autonomous motivation.}, keywords = {motivation}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{schrooyen2021parental, title = {Parental Identity as a Resource for Parental Adaptation During the COVID- 19 Lockdown}, author = {Charlotte Schrooyen and Bart Soenens and Joachim Waterschoot and Branko Vermote and Sofie Morbée and Wim Beyers and Katrijn Brenning and Lisa Dieleman and Jolene Van der Kaap-Deeder and Maarten Vansteenkiste}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fam0000895}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fam0000895}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-07-22}, urldate = {2022-07-22}, journal = {Journal of Family Psychology.}, volume = {Advance online publication}, abstract = {The lockdown measures that were taken to contain the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 caused many parents to stay at home with their children. This unusual situation created both risks and opportunities for families. In the present study, we examined the role of parental identity as a resource for parental adaptation during this challenging period, thereby considering both parenthood experiences and parents’ general mental health while also taking into account the cumulative risk to which parents were exposed (e.g., single parenthood). Furthermore, to shed light on the mechanisms behind the effects of parental identity, this study addressed the mediating role of parental satisfaction of their basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. During the lockdown period in Belgium, 492 parents (88% mothers, Mage = 44 years, 63.7% in intact family, 31.2% with a university degree) completed online questionnaires on parental identity, need-based experiences, positive and negative parenthood experiences, and mental health. Several weeks earlier, these participants also rated their mental health and a variety of risks they were exposed to as part of a larger study. Results showed that a clear and self-endorsed parental identity was related to better parental adaptation, with parental need satisfaction playing a mediating role in these associations. Moreover, these associations remained significant after controlling for the prior levels of parental mental health and for cumulative risk. Overall, findings suggest that parental identity serves as a source of resilience in an uncertain period such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.}, keywords = {parenting}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{morbee2021cyclists, title = {Which cyclists manage to cope with the corona crisis in a resilient way? The role of motivational profiles}, author = {Sofie Morbée and Leen Haerens and Joachim Waterschoot and Maarten Vansteenkiste}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2021.1940241}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2021.1940241}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-05-21}, journal = {International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology}, pages = {1-19}, abstract = {Due to the COVID-19-pandemic, all cycling races during spring 2020 were cancelled, thus requiring cyclists to act in resilient ways. This cross-sectional study examined in a sample of 207 cyclists (Mage = 26.81) whether different motivational profiles can be identified and whether these profile differences relate to (a) the extent to which cyclists get their basic psychological needs satisfied during this pandemic and (b) the type of self-regulation strategies cyclists use to motivate themselves to continue their training. Cluster analyses revealed four motivational profiles (i.e., a good quality, high quantity, low quantity, and poor quality profile) that differed in terms of autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and amotivation. Results indicated that the profile characterised by autonomous motivation (i.e., good quality) yielded the most adaptive outcomes, while the profile characterised by the combination of controlled motivation and amotivation (i.e., poor quality) yielded the least optimal outcomes. This research shows that cyclists’ capacity to cope with the pandemic in a resilient way depends on the presence of both a sufficient dose and high-quality motivation.}, keywords = {motivation}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{Vermote.2021, title = {Do psychological needs play a role in times of uncertainty? Associations with well-being during the corona crisis.}, author = {Branko Vermote and Joachim Waterschoot and Sofie Morbée and Jolene Van der Kaap-Deeder and Charlotte Schrooyen and Bart Soenens and Richard Ryan and Maarten Vansteenkiste}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10902-021-00398-x#citeas}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00398-x}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-04-28}, urldate = {2021-04-28}, journal = {Journal of Happiness Studies}, abstract = {Across the world, measures were taken to contain the spreading of the COVID-19 virus. Many of these measures caused a sudden rupture in people’s daily routines, thereby eliciting considerable uncertainty and potentially also hampering the satisfaction of individuals’ psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Drawing upon Maslow’s Hierarchical Need Theory and Self-Determination Theory, this study examined the unique role of felt insecurity and the psychological needs, as well as their dynamic interplay, in the prediction of mental health. A large and heterogeneous sample of adults (N = 5118; Mage = 43.45 years) was collected during the first ten days of the lockdown period in Flanders, Belgium. A subsample (N = 835, Mage = 41.39) participated during a second wave one week later. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that felt insecurity, need satisfaction and need frustration all independently predicted various positive (life satisfaction, sleep quality) and negative indicators depressive symptoms, anxiety) of mental health, with little systematic evidence for interactions between the predictors. The pattern of findings obtained concurrently largely held in the longitudinal analyses. Finally, results showed that associations between felt insecurity and lower concurrent and prospective mental health were partially mediated by need satisfaction and frustration, with especially psychological need frustration predicting changes in mental health over time. Overall, the findings suggest that satisfaction of the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness is not just a ‘luxury good’. Satisfaction of these needs is important also in times of insecurity, while need frustration represents a risk factor for maladjustment during such times.}, keywords = {well-being}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{nokey, title = {Adolescents as active managers of their own psychological needs: The role of psychological need crafting in adolescents’ mental health}, author = {Nele Laporte and Bart Soenens and Katrijn Brenning and Maarten Vansteenkiste}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140197121000294?casa_token=00tIG3rkXgYAAAAA:FutPZ5gqxyhLo6va0lyX3qsGZFsH_lbkxegqRe8m1nsJ1-MZ3vgRYRT6QUvOxW1ZHE8C-A4aPsE}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-04-01}, urldate = {2021-04-01}, journal = {Journal of Adolescence}, volume = {88}, pages = {67-83}, abstract = {Introduction Satisfaction of adolescents' basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness contributes to their well-being. Socialization figures (e.g., parents) can assist adolescents in getting these needs met. In addition, adolescents can engage in need crafting, thereby proactively managing their behavior towards improved need satisfaction. This research aimed to develop a need crafting measure and to examine the role of need crafting in adolescents’ need-based experiences and mental health. Method A cross-sectional study in 233 Flemish students (Study 1; Mage = 16.6, 58.4% female) addressed the psychometric properties of a need crafting measure and its associations with relevant constructs. Using a three-wave longitudinal study in 436 Flemish students (Study 2; Mage = 16.33, 66,0% female), we investigated the role of need crafting in adolescents’ mental health and the intervening role of need-based experiences. Results In Study 1, a CFA yielded evidence for the psychometric quality of the need crafting measure. Need crafting was related in meaningful ways with different validation constructs and with adolescents' need-based experiences. Study 2 showed that need crafting was related to adolescents’ mental health, both at the level of inter-individual differences and at the level of intra-individual change. Need-based experiences accounted partly for the mental health benefits associated with need crafting, with the effects remaining significant after controlling for perceived maternal need-support. Conclusion The findings provide initial evidence for the importance of adolescents' need crafting in mental health. Future research needs to further examine factors that determine adolescents’ ability to manage their own psychological needs.}, keywords = {need crafting}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{Deeder.2021, title = {The Role of Ego Integrity and Despair in Older Adults’ Well-being during the Covid-19 Crisis: The Mediating Role of Need-based Experiences.}, author = {Jolene Vander Kaap-Deeder and Branko Vermote and Joachim Waterschoot and Bart Soenens and Sofie Morbée and Maarten Vansteenkiste }, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10433-021-00610-0}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-021-00610-0}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-02-28}, urldate = {2021-02-28}, journal = {European Journal of Ageing}, abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people across the world, with important heterogeneity among older adults in how they respond to the challenges associated with this crisis. Relying on a cross-fertilization between Erikson’s personality theory and self-determination theory, this study aimed to examine possible sources of resilience (i.e., ego integrity and need satisfaction) and vulnerability (i.e., despair) in older adults’ (mal) adjustment, thereby additionally considering the role of multiple risk and protective factors (e.g., gender and marital status). During the second month of the lockdown period in Belgium, 693 older adults (Mage = 70.06, SD = 4.48, range: 65–89 years, 62.1% female) filled out online questionnaires concerning the study variables, while also completing assessments of several important sociodemographic factors. Structural equation modeling suggested that both ego integrity and despair related to indicators of well-being and psychological distress through experienced need satisfaction. Additionally, we found several factors to protect (e.g., higher perceived income) or diminish (e.g., being widowed) older adults’ well-being during these challenging times, with little evidence for a moderating role of these factors in associations between the psychological variables. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.}, keywords = {well-being}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } @article{J.2021, title = {‘How to Unlock Myself from Boredom?’ The Role of Mindfulness and a dual Awareness- and Action-Oriented Pathway during the COVID-19 Lockdown.}, author = {Joachim Waterschoot and Jolene Vander Kaap-Deeder and Sofie Morbee and Bart Soenens and Maarten Vansteenkiste}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886921001045}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.110729}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-02-09}, urldate = {2021-02-09}, journal = {Personality and Individual Differences}, volume = {175}, pages = {110729}, abstract = {Although the COVID-19 crisis is a distressing situation entailing greater boredom and lower life satisfaction, there is considerably heterogeneity in people's reaction patterns. In a sample of 1455 participants (Mage = 50.70, 70% female), collected during the second lockdown in Belgium, we sought to examine an integrative process model, thereby distinguishing between an awareness- (i.e., decentering vs. ruminating) and an action-oriented (i.e., self-motivating strategies vs. lack of strategies) pathway to account for the association between dispositional mindfulness and participants' psychological functioning. In conjunction, both pathways were found to, respectively, partial and full account for the association between mindfulness and boredom and life satisfaction. The findings highlight, first, the importance of taking an observing stance towards negative experiences instead of being directly immersed in them. Second, congruent with the Self-Determination Theory, they suggest that not all self-motivating action strategies can be considered equal, as autonomy- and control-oriented self-motivating strategies to handle boredom episodes were differentiated related to boredom and life satisfaction.}, keywords = {well-being}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} }