Relationship Between Psychological Needs and Regulatory Focus Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

# Background Diabetes is a chronic disease. A sustained change in lifestyle is generally necessary for terms of diet and physical activity. According to Self-Determination Theory, the nature of the motivation to regulate one's behavior is linked to the satisfaction of three psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. According to Regulatory Focus Theory, there is a promotion focus and a prevention focus. The prevention focus has been shown to have a different relationship with the satisfaction of the needs of the Self-Determination Theory between a general population and a population with health problems. # Objective This study investigates the relationship between psychological needs and regulatory focus for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). # Methods 295 adults with T2D completed an online questionnaire measuring autonomy and perceived competence and regulatory focus. # Results The promotion focus predicts the satisfaction of needs for autonomy and competence (*β* = 1.50, p \< .01). The prevention focuses positively predicts the satisfaction of autonomy and competence needs (*β* = 2.06, p \< .001). # Conclusion These factors display different relationships between them among people with type 2 diabetes compared to the general population. Prevention focus seems to be more beneficial in the specific context of T2D than in the general population.