COVID-19

The Theory

Basic SDT research topics

Silva, A. J.Pombo, R.Lopes, R. R. (2026) Hybrid work as a self-determining context: examining the psychological mechanisms behind job satisfaction. The Learning Organization, 33(7) ,39-57

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Gargurevich, R.Campodónico, V., Matos, L. (2025) Fear of COVID-19, traumatic growth, and traumatic stress symptoms: The mediating role of basic psychological needs. Frontiers in Psychology, 15

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Chan, D. K. C.Wan, A. W. L.Zhang, C-Q., Hagger, M. S. (2025) Parent’s motivation and behaviour to protect their children from COVID-19: A prospective test of self-determination theory. Lifestyle Medicine, 6(2) ,e70013

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Behzadnia, B.Leo, F. M.Khalilpourshiraz, Z.Karimi, A. (2025) Online intervention program based on need‐supportive activities to promote physical activity and cognitive functions in physical education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, Advance Online

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Alves-Pereira, S.dos Santos, N. R.Pais, L.Pereira, M. (2025) The impact of COVID-19 pandemic context on work motivation: A two-wave study. Current Psychology, 44 ,7568–7583

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Vansteenkiste, M., Waterschoot, J., Morbee, S.Van Oost, P. (2024) Psychological science and its societal mission during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: The Motivation Barometer as an evidence-informed policy instrument in Belgium. Social Issues and Policy Review, 18(1) ,59-88

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Wan, A. W. L., Hagger, M. S.Zhang, C-Q.Chung, J. S. K. (2024) Protecting children from COVID-19: examining U.S. parents motivation and behaviour using an integrated model of self-determination theory and the theory of planned behaviour. Psychology & Health, 39(6) ,765-785

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Waterschoot, J., Vansteenkiste, M.Yzerbyt, V., Morbee, S. (2024) Risk perception as a motivational resource during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of vaccination status and emerging variants. BMC Public Health, 24 ,731

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Waterschoot, J., Morbee, S.Yzerbyt, V.Van den Bergh, O. (2024) Why motivation for adhering to COVID-19 measures matters: Investigating time-lagged associations with epidemiological indicators. Motivation Science, Advance online publication

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Martinez, A., Knee, C. R. (2024) Using self‐determination theory to link empathy and voluntary health behaviors. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Advance online publication

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Waterschoot, J., Morbee, S., Soenens, B.Van den Bergh, O. (2024) Psychological need fulfillment as a source of resilience: Its protective role in concerns and symptoms of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applied psychology: Health and Well-Being, 16(2) ,632-652

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Brisbois, M.Schmitz, M., Vansteenkiste, M.Yzerbyt, V. (2024) Attitudes towards mandatory vaccination and the COVID certificate as a function of vaccination status and risk perception: A vignette-based study. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 25(1) ,e12435

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Van Oost, P.Schmitz, M.Klein, O.Brisbois, M. (2024) When views about alternative medicine, nature and god come in the way of people’s vaccination intentions. European Journal of Social Psychology, 54(3) ,767-784

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Vermote, B., Morbee, S., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M. (2023) How do late adults experience meaning during the COVID-19 lockdown? The role of intrinsic goals. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24(5) ,1759-1780

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Waterschoot, J., Morbee, S.Vermote, B.Brenning, K. (2023) Emotion regulation in times of COVID-19: A person-centered approach based on self-determination theory. Current Psychology, 42 ,20211-20225

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Waterschoot, J., Morbee, S.Van den Bergh, O., Vansteenkiste, M. (2023) Merry Christmas and a “healthy” New Year: Assessing people’s expectations regarding Christmas gathering in pandemic times. European Journal of Health Psychology, 30(1) ,2512-8450

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Morbee, S., Vansteenkiste, M., Waterschoot, J.Klein, O. (2023) The role of communication style and external motivators in predicting vaccination experiences and intentions: An experimental vignette study. Health Communication, 38(13) ,2894-2903

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Ahmadi, A., Noetel, M., Parker, P., Ryan, R. M., Ntoumanis, N., Reeve, J., Beauchamp, M., Dicke, T., Yeung, A., Ahmadi, M., Bartholomew, K., Chiu, T. K. F., Curran, T., Erturan, G., Flunger, B., Frederick, C., Froiland, J. M., González-Cutre, D., Haerens, L., Jeno, L. M., Koka, A., Krijgsman, C., Langdon, J., White, R. L., Litalien, D., Lubans, D., Mahoney, J., Nalipay, M.. J. N., Patall, E., Perlman, D., Quested, E., Schneider, S., Standage, M.Stroet, K., Tessier, D., Thogersen-Ntoumani, C. (2023) Academic honesty during the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown: Perspectives from instructors and students in higher education. Journal of Educational Psychology, 35(1) ,123-127

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Spinks, M., Metzler, M., Kluge, S., Langdon, J. L.Gurvitch, R., Smitherman, M., Esmat, T., Bhattacharya, S., Carruth, L., Crowther, K., Denton, R., Edwards, O. V., Shrikhande, M., Strong-Green, A.esma (2023) “This wasn’t pedagogy, It was panicgogy”: Perspectives of the challenges faced by students and instructors during the emergency transition to remote learning due to COVID-19. College Teaching, 71(4) ,227-243

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Waterschoot, J., Morbee, S.Van den Bergh, O.Yzerbyt, V. (2023) How the stringency of the COVID-19 restrictions influences motivation for adherence and well-being: The critical role of proportionality. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 12(1) ,1-13

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Pietilä, M.Saurio, K., Martela, F.Silfver, M. (2023) Basic psychological needs, quality of motivation, and protective behavior intentions: A nationally representative survey study. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 11(1)

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Desimpelaere, E. N., Soenens, B.Prinzie, P., Waterschoot, J. (2023) Parents’ stress, parental burnout, and parenting behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparing parents of children with and without complex care needs. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 32 ,3681-3696

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Chiu, T. (2023) Student engagement in K-12 online learning amid COVID-19: A qualitative approach from a self-determination theory perspective. Interactive Learning Environments, 31(6) ,3326-3339

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Rahi, S.Alghizzawi, M.Ngah, A. H. (2023) Factors influence user’s intention to continue use of e-banking during COVID-19 pandemic: the nexus between self-determination and expectation confirmation model. EuroMed journal of business, 18(3) ,380-396

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Waterschoot, J.Yzerbyt, V., Soenens, B.Van den Bergh, O. (2023) How do vaccination intentions change over time? The role of motivational growth. Health Psychology, 42(2) ,113-123

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Waterschoot, J.Van Oost, P., Vansteenkiste, M.Brisbois, M. (2023) Who is motivated to accept a booster and annual dose? A dimensional and person-centered approach. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 15(4) ,1293-1318

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Morbee, S.Beeckman, M.Loeys, T., Waterschoot, J. (2023) A brief report on the reciprocal associations between physical activity and mental well-being during the first 9 weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Belgium. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 24 ,100500

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Brenning, K., Waterschoot, J.Dieleman, L., Morbee, S. (2023) The role of emotion regulation in mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak: A 10-wave longitudinal study. Stress and Health, 39(3) ,562–575

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Brenning, K., Waterschoot, J.Dieleman, L., Morbee, S. (2022) Maladaptive emotion regulation as a vulnerability factor during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 10-wave longitudinal study. Stress & Health, 39(3) ,562-575

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Laporte, N., van den Bogaard, D.Brenning, K., Soenens, B. (2022) Testing an online program to foster need crafting during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Current Psychology, 43 ,8557-8574

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Morbee, S., Waterschoot, J.Yzerbyt, V.Klein, O. (2022) Personal and contextual determinants of COVID-19 vaccination intention: a vignette study. Expert Review of Vaccines, 10 ,1475-1485

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Alamer, A.Al Sultan, H. (2022) The role of basic psychological needs on volunteering and national responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from the context of Saudi Arabia. Frontiers in Education, 7 ,944048

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Costa, S.Canale, N.Mioni, G.Cellini, N. (2022) Maintaining social support while social distancing: The longitudinal benefit of basic psychological needs for symptoms of anxiety during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 52(6) ,439-448

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Dirzyte, A.Patapas, A.Zidoniene, D. (2022) Employees’ personality traits and needs’ frustration predicts stress overload during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 63(5) ,513-521

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Psychological Science Accelerator Self-Determination Theory Collaboration:, Legate, N., Nguyen, T. T., Weinstein, N. (2022) A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(22) ,e2111091119

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Curren, R.Barber, Z., Ryan, R. M. (2022) Moral character education after COVID-19: An interview. Philosophical Inquiry in Education, 29(1)

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Behzadnia, B.Alizadeh, E., Haerens, L.Aghdasi, M. T. (2022) Changes in students’ goal pursuits and motivational regulations toward healthy behaviors during the pandemic: A Self-Determination Theory perspective. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 59 ,102131

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Rietveld, J. R.Hiemstra, D.Brouwer, A. E.Waalkens, J. (2022) Motivation and productivity of employees in higher education during the first lockdown. Administrative Sciences, 12 ,1

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Schmitz, M.Luminet, O.Klein, O., Morbee, S. (2022) Predicting vaccine uptake during COVID-19 crisis: A motivational approach. Vaccine, 40(2) ,288-297

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Van Oost, P.Yzerbyt, V.Schmitz, M., Vansteenkiste, M. (2022) The relation between conspiracism, government trust, and COVID-19 vaccination intentions: The key role of motivation. Social Science & Medicine, 301 ,114926

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Wauters, A.Vervoort, T.Dhondt, K., Soenens, B. (2022) Mental health outcomes among parents of children with a chronic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of parental burn-out. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 47(4) ,420-431

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Van de Casteele, M., Waterschoot, J.Anthierens, S.DeSmet, A. (2022) Saliva testing among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effects on health concerns, well-being, and precautionary behavior. Social Science & Medicine, 311 ,115295

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Legate, N., Weinstein, N. (2022) Can we communicate autonomy support and a mandate? How motivating messages relate to motivation for staying at home across time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Communication, 37(14) ,1842-1849

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Van der Kaap-Deeder, J.Vermote, B., Waterschoot, J., Soenens, B. (2022) The role of ego integrity and despair in older adults’ well-being during the covid-19 crisis: The mediating role of need-based experiences. European Journal of Ageing, 19(1) ,117-129

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Morbee, S., Haerens, L., Waterschoot, J., Vansteenkiste, M. (2022) Which cyclists manage to cope with the corona crisis in a resilient way? The role of motivational profiles. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 20(4) ,1049-1067

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Chiu, T. (2021) Applying the self-determination theory (SDT) to explain student engagement in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 4 ,1-17

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Neufeld, A.Malin, G. (2021) Twelve tips to combat ill-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: A guide for health professionals and educators. , MedEdPublish , 9(70) doi: 10.15694/mep.2020.000070.1

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Vermote, B., Waterschoot, J., Morbee, S., Van der Kaap-Deeder, J. (2021) Do psychological needs play a role in times of uncertainty? Associations with well-being during the COVID-19 crisis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23 ,257-288

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Brunelle, E.Fortin, J. (2021) Distance makes the heart grow fonder: An examination of teleworkers’ and office workers’ job satisfaction through the lens of self-determination theory. SAGE Open, 11(1)

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Weman Josefsson, K. (2021) Perspectives of life in Sweden during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology,

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Waterschoot, J., Van der Kaap-Deeder, J., Morbee, S., Soenens, B. (2021) “How to unlock myself from boredom?” The role of mindfulness and a dual awareness- and action-oriented pathway during the COVID-19 lockdown. Personality and Individual Differences, 175 ,110729

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Martela, F.Hankonen, N., Ryan, R. M., Vansteenkiste, M. (2021) Motivating voluntary compliance to behavioural restrictions: Self-determination theory-based checklist of principles for COVID-19 and other emergency communications. , European Review of Social Psychology , 32(2) (pp. 305-347) doi: 10.1080/10463283.2020.1857082

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Bradshaw, E. L., Ryan, R. M.Noetel, M.Saeri, A. K. (2021) Information safety assurances increase intentions to use COVID-19 contact tracing applications, regardless of autonomy-supportive or controlling message framing. Frontiers in Psychology, 11 ,591638

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Schrooyen, C., Soenens, B.Waterschoot, J.Vermote, B. (2021) Parental identity as a resource for parental adaptation during the COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of Family Psychology, 35(8) ,1053-1064

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Neubauer, A. B.Schmidt, A.Kramer, A. C.Schmiedek, F. (2021) A little autonomy support goes a long way: Daily autonomy-supportive parenting, child well-being, parental need fulfillment, and change in child, family, and parent adjustment across the adaptation to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Child Development, 92(5) ,1679-1697

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Bentzen, M.Brurok, B.Roeleveld, K.Hoff, M. (2021) Changes in physical activity and basic psychological needs related to mental health among people with physical disability during the Covid-19 pandemic in Norway. Disability and Health Journal, 14(4) ,101126

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Chan, D. K. C.Zhang, C-Q, Weman, K. (2021) Why people failed to adhere to COVID-19 preventive behaviors? Perspectives from an integrated behavior change model. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 42(3) ,375-376

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Guay, F., Bureau, J. S.Boulet, J.Bradet, R. (2021) COVID-19 illegal social gatherings: Predicting rule compliance from autonomous and controlled forms of motivation. Motivation Science, 7(3) ,356-362

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Masland, L. C. (2021) In In Thurston, T. N., Lundstrom, K., & González, C., Resilient pedagogy and self-determination theory: Unlocking student engagement in uncertain times. , Resilient pedagogy: Practical teaching strategies to overcome distance, disruption, and distraction (pp. 13-36) Utah State University. doi: 10.26079/a516-fb24

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Audet, E. C.Levine, S. L.Metin, E.Koestner, S. (2021) Zooming their way through university: Which Big 5 traits facilitated students’ adjustment to online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Personality and Individual Differences, 180 ,110969

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van der Goot, W. E.Duvivier, R. J.Van Yperen, N. W.de Carvalho-Filho, M. A. (2021) Psychological distress among frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study. PLOS ONE, eCollection

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Porat, T.Burnell, R., Calvo, R. A.Ford, E. (2021) “Vaccine passports” may backfire: Findings from a cross-sectional study in the UK and Israel on willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines, 9(8) ,902

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Morbee, S.Vermote, B., Waterschoot, J.Dieleman, L. (2021) Adherence to COVID-19 measures: The critical role of autonomous motivation on a short- and long-term basis. Motivation Science, 7(4) ,487-496

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Thompson, J. A.Fraser, S. L.Archambault, I.Beauregard, N. (2021) Schooling, interrupted: A critical account of motivation and education during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec. Journal of Teaching and Learning, 15(2) ,60-80

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Maltagliati, S.Rebar, A.Fessler, L.Forestier, C. (2021) Evolution of physical activity habits after a context change: The case of COVID-19 lockdown. British Journal of Health Psychology, 26 ,1135–1154

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Camilleri, M. A. (2021) The employees’ state of mind during COVID-19: A Self-Determination Theory perspective. Sustainability, 13 ,3634

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Orsini, C.Rodrigues, V. (2020) Supporting motivation in teams working remotely: The role of basic psychological needs. Medical Teacher, 42(7) ,828-829

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Karloh, M.Matias, T. S.Mayer, A. F. (2020) The COVID-19 pandemic confronts the motivation fallacy within pulmonary rehabilitation programs. COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 17(4) ,343-345

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Sakan, D.Zuljevic, D.Rokvic, N. (2020) The role of basic psychological needs in well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak: A self-determination theory perspective. Frontiers in Public Health, 8

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Sakan, D.Zuljevic, D.Rokvic, N. (2020) The role of basic psychological needs in well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak: A Self-Determination Theory perspective. Frontiers in Public Health, 8:583181

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Cantarero, K.van Tilburg, W. A. P.Smoktunowicz, E. (2020) Affirming basic psychological needs promotes mental well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak. Social Psychological and Personality Science, ,1-8

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Behzadnia, B.FatahModares, S. (2020) Basic psychological need-satisfying activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being,

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Porat, T.Nyrup, R., Calvo, R. A.Paudyal, P. (2020) Public health and risk communication during COVID-19 – enhancing psychological needs to promote sustainable behaviour change. , Frontiers in Public Health , 8 doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.573397

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Vansteenkiste, M.Van den Bergh, O.Chauvrier, P.Desmet, A. (2020) The population is no longer motivated. How can we create a motivating climate?. Research Report, 12

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Vansteenkiste, M. (2020) How long do we continue to follow the covid- 19 prevention measures?. Research Report, 1

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Bradshaw, E. L., Ryan, R. M.Noetel, M.Saeri, A. (2020) Information safety assurances affect intentions to use COVID-19 contact tracing applications, regardless of autonomy-supportive or controlling message framing. Preprint,

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Calvo, R. A.Deterding, S., Ryan, R. M. (2020) Health surveillance during covid-19 pandemic: How to safeguard autonomy and why it matters. BMJ, 369 ,m1373

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Lynch, M. F.Leontiev, D. A.Lee, J.Osin, E. N. In J. Vos, P. Russo-Netzer, & S. E. Schulenberg, Why people did (not) adhere to behavioral measures during the first month of a pandemic: Autonomous motivation matters in diverse cultures. University Professors Press COVID-19 and Beyond: Psychological, Existential, and Therapeutic Perspectives on Mental Health and Meaning,

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