Self-determination theory: The roles of emotion and trait mindfulness in motivation

Abstract: Within the framework of Self-determination theory, influences of emotions on motivation are largely neglected. And when considering the recent findings that mindfulness is associated with emotional management, it is unknown how mindfulness may buffer emotions in relation to autonomous and controlled motivations. The present study examined the relationship between the two dimensions of emotion (i.e., pleasantness and arousal) and relative autonomous-oriented motivation, and the moderation effect of trait mindfulness on such relationship. A hundred and seventy-one students of a Swedish university participated in the survey. It was found that pleasantness, arousal and trait mindfulness were correlated positively with relative autonomous-oriented motivation, and that trait mindfulness moderated the relationship between pleasantness and the motivation. The findings suggest that pleasant and arousal emotions, and dispositional mindfulness may have positive effects on autonomous motivation.