Promoting Health Behaviors in Emerging Adults: Need Crafting as a Self-Directed Strategy

Abstract

Health-promoting behaviors such as physical activity and healthy eating are essential for preventing lifestyle-related diseases. Based on the Basic Psychological Needs theory, this study examined whether need crafting, the proactive effort to fulfill the psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness and competence, is related to both physical activity and healthy eating behavior among emerging adults, and whether this relationship is mediated by need satisfaction.