Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
Published on: March 19, 2014
Parental support and adolescent motivation for dieting: the Self-Determination Theory perspective
Idit Katz1, Nir Madjar, Adi Harari
1a Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Abstract:
This article focuses on parents' role in overweight adolescents' motivation to diet and successful weight loss. The study employed Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as the theoretical framework (Deci & Ryan, 2000, 2011). Ninety-nine participants (ages 20-30) who had been overweight during adolescence according to their Body Mass Index (BMI mean = 25, SD = 1.6), completed retrospective questionnaires about their motivation to diet and their parents' behavior in the context of dieting. Findings from a structural equation modeling analysis suggested that participants who viewed their parents' as more need-supportive demonstrated more autonomous motivation to diet, which, in turn, contributed to their successful weight loss. The findings highlight the importance of parental support of adolescents' psychological needs in the quality of their motivation to diet. This is an important insight for parents and professionals who aim to encourage more constructive parent involvement in adolescents' dieting and well-being.
Related Concept Videos
Ryan and Deci's Self-Determination Theory
Autonomy is the need to feel in control of one's actions and decisions. For example, a student who chooses their research topic is likely to be more engaged and motivated than one who...
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Self-Regulation

