Abstract
Feelings of pride are thought to play a central role in motivating and regulating individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours (Campos, 1995; Fischer & Tangney, 1995). Grounded in self-conscious emotions literature (Tangney & Tracy, 2012) and Organismic Integration Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2002), the purpose of the present study was to examine the role of self-determined motives as one mechanism though which fitness-related pride is associated with well-being. Participants (N = 119) were young adults (nwomen = 57; Mage = 20.34 years; SDage = 1.48 years) who completed self-report questionnaires pertaining to pride in fitness contexts, behavioural regulations for exercise, and subjective vitality at two time points separated by 4-weeks. A single score was computed for each time point using the subscales of the BREQ-2R to form an overall index of relative autonomy (RAI; Ryan & Connell, 1989). Using tests of serial mediation, the specific indirect effect of pride through RAI at Time 1 and Time 2 on subjective vitality was significant for authentic pride (BC CI = .0966-.5388) and hubristic pride (BC CI = .1171-.4794). Taken together, these results speak to the importance of the causal flow of more self-determined motivation in the relationship between pride and well-being. Results are in line with previous findings (Fredrickson, 2001) that positive emotions promote well-being not simply in the present moment, but over time through building enduring personal resources. Contrary to previous research (Tracy et al., 2009) hubristic pride, at least in the context of fitness, may be adaptive for psychological health.Acknowledgments: Support for this research was provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada