Changes to autonomous motivation and reductions in amotivation led to positive mental health in overweight male football fans: a causal mediation analysis of the European fans in training (EuroFIT) trial
Objective
Do post-program motivational regulations mediate the intervention effect of the SDT-based European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) program on self-esteem, well-being and vitality at 12-months follow-up?
Methods
A causal mediation analysis of data from the randomised controlled trial of the EuroFIT program that recruited 1113 overweight, male football fans in England, Norway, Portugal and the Netherlands.
Results
We found evidence of indirect effects of autonomous motivation on vitality (b=.487, 95% CI: .229, .767, p<.001) well-being (b=.063, 95% CI: .003, .131, p=.038) and self-esteem (b=.491, 95% CI: .278, .701, p<.001), but not controlled motivation, at 12-months follow-up in the EuroFIT trial. We also found that reductions in amotivation at post-program partly explained positive increases across outcomes at 12-months follow-up. When controlling for increases in outcome variables at post-program, only the mediating effect of autonomous motivation on self-esteem remained significant, whereas the indirect pathway through reductions in amotivation remained significant for all outcomes. None of the indirect effects were robust to potential mediator-outcome confounding.
Conclusion
EuroFIT program produced small-to-moderate improvements in vitality, well-being, and self-esteem at 12-month follow-up that were partly explained by post-program increases in autonomous motivation and reductions in amotivation. All indirect effects estimates were sensitive to potential mediator-outcome confounding.
Do post-program motivational regulations mediate the intervention effect of the SDT-based European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) program on self-esteem, well-being and vitality at 12-months follow-up?
Methods
A causal mediation analysis of data from the randomised controlled trial of the EuroFIT program that recruited 1113 overweight, male football fans in England, Norway, Portugal and the Netherlands.
Results
We found evidence of indirect effects of autonomous motivation on vitality (b=.487, 95% CI: .229, .767, p<.001) well-being (b=.063, 95% CI: .003, .131, p=.038) and self-esteem (b=.491, 95% CI: .278, .701, p<.001), but not controlled motivation, at 12-months follow-up in the EuroFIT trial. We also found that reductions in amotivation at post-program partly explained positive increases across outcomes at 12-months follow-up. When controlling for increases in outcome variables at post-program, only the mediating effect of autonomous motivation on self-esteem remained significant, whereas the indirect pathway through reductions in amotivation remained significant for all outcomes. None of the indirect effects were robust to potential mediator-outcome confounding.
Conclusion
EuroFIT program produced small-to-moderate improvements in vitality, well-being, and self-esteem at 12-month follow-up that were partly explained by post-program increases in autonomous motivation and reductions in amotivation. All indirect effects estimates were sensitive to potential mediator-outcome confounding.
Publisert i Psychology and Health, 2026
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