Desire for control, perception of control: their impact on autonomous motivation and psychological adjustment
Résumé
In the present research, we tested, with cluster analyses, for the relevance of a theoretical framework based on the matches and the mismatches between the desire for control and the perception of control (Evans, Shapiro, & Lewis, 1993), in order to predict autonomous motivation (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2012), depression and anxiety (Bradley, 1994; Bruchon-Schweitzer, 2002). Two prospective studies were conducted among undergraduate students. Results of Study 1 confirmed the legitimacy of Evans
et al. (1993) framework, four clusters were found in function of the levels (high or low) of desire for control and perception of control. Moreover, results showed that participants with a high desire and perception of control showed highest scores of autonomous motivation compared to the other profiles. Results of Study 2 replicated results of Study 1 and showed that participants with a low desire for control and a high perception of control were the less depressed, followed by participants with high scores on both control measures. No effects were found for anxiety.