News category: Uncategorized

    Applying Self-Determination Theory to 

    Health-Behavior Interventions

    June 2, 2015   9:00am to 5:00pm

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    International Conference Centre

Self-Determination Theory is one of the leading psychological theories on motivation & a powerful cornerstone to building a successful health initiative, program or intervention. In this training you will…Gain a deeper understanding of SDT principles & discover precisely why SDT provides a powerful framework for:

• Improving motivation for behavior change
• Cultivating value for important health behaviors
• Creating meaningful goals

Learn to practically apply the SDT framework in actionable ways, helping researchers and practitioners translate theory into practice

Distinguish the SDT approach from other prominent interventions (MI, CBT, Stages of Change)

Learn how to utilize SDT in different modes of treatment delivery  (including mobile health, individual, and group modalities)

Explore how SDT is synergistic with your health initiatives, program, or intervention and can help create lasting change and improved long-term health outcomes

Expert Trainer:  Jennifer La Guardia Ph.D.Dr. La Guardia is an established expert in the applications of SDT to healthcare. She has15+ years experience designing ‘live’, web-based, and mobile health interventions to promote health behavior change, manage chronic illness, and improve personal well-being. She also implements large scale interventions, designs metrics, and evaluates program effectiveness for employee and community wellness initiatives.

May 13th 2015.

The New York Times cites self-determination theory in their article, Lawyers with Lowest Pay Report More Happiness.

“Law students are famous for busting their buns to make high grades, sometimes at the expense of health and relationships, thinking, ‘Later I’ll be happy, because the American dream will be mine,’ ” said Lawrence S. Krieger, a law professor at Florida State University and an author of the study. “Nice, except it doesn’t work.”

The problem with the more prestigious jobs, said Mr. Krieger, is that they do not provide feelings of competence, autonomy or connection to others — three pillars of self-determination theory, the psychological model of human happiness on which the study was based. Public-service jobs do.

Read more at:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/lawyers-with-lowest-pay-report-more-happiness/

January 11th 2014.
A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in 2010 showed that spending even just 20 minutes a day in fresh air boosts vitality that is, having both physical and mental energy.
“Research has shown that people with a greater sense of vitality don’t just have more energy for things they want to do, they are also more resilient to physical illnesses,” said Richard Ryan, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester and an author of the study.

Read more at:

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/12/opinion_outdoor_green_can_fight_the_blues.html 

By Michele S. Byers

September 25th 2014.

Studies have found that having weekends to relax not only makes us happier, but healthier, too:

Far from frivolous, the relatively unfettered time on weekends provides critical opportunities for bonding with others, exploring interests and relaxing—basic psychological needs. -Richard Ryan, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester

One study on why people are happier on weekends found that autonomy and relatedness have a large part to play. On weekends we have more control over what we do (autonomy) and we often spend time with people we’re close to (relatedness). Compared to the external pressures many of us feel at work during the week and the weaker relationships we have with colleagues versus our friends and family, weekends tend to rate far higher than weekdays for these two things.

Read more at:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3035980/hit-the-ground-running/how-to-turn-monday-into-a-day-you-actually-enjoy

Originally reported by Belle Beth Cooper

July 10th 2013.

“Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, professors at the University of Rochester and developers of Self-Determination Theory, the most respected theory of human motivation, have shown that thriving results from satisfying three motivational drives: the desire to be autonomous: to make choices that are true to one’s core, not imposed by others or one’s inner critic; to be competent: using one’s strengths and becoming skilled in life tasks; and to be connected: doing things that support others. These core drives are alive in us when it comes to taking good care of our mental and physical health, but for many people they seem to get buried and hidden from light.

There are some people like me for whom health, fitness and self-care are non-negotiable; we discovered at some point that we are not sane, creative, productive or resilient otherwise. Or at least we would be operating well below the level we want to live with. So we invented and mastered a lifestyle that puts us in the driver’s seat. We built and sustain the energy and strength to handle whatever life throws our way.”

To read more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/margaret-moore/dont-let-others-control-y_b_635626.html

By Margaret Moore.