The Mood-Behavior Model: Assessing Mood-Related Mobilization of Self-Regulation of Weight-Loss Behaviors Within Community-Based Obesity Treatments

Abstract

Increasing understanding of self-regulation processes within behavioral obesity treatments is required to improve consistently inadequate outcomes. The mood-behavior model proposes that, under conditions of goal striving and mood awareness, enhanced mood will mobilize self-regulation resources. That was tested within community-based obesity treatments where increased exercise might enhance mood, and increased self-regulation could improve weight-loss behaviors. Women with obesity participating in treatments focusing on either moderate exercise and self-regulation (Exercise/Self-Regulation [Exercise/SR] group, n = 42) or education on healthy eating and (to a lesser extent) exercise (Usual Care group, n = 48) were assessed on psychological and behavioral changes over 6 months. Significant overall improvements in negative mood, self-regulation for exercise and controlling eating, exercise, and fruit/vegetable intake were significantly greater in the Exercise/SR group. Using aggregated data (N = 90), at baseline, negative mood did not significantly predict self-regulation. However, at months 3 and 6, negative mood significantly predicted both self-regulation for exercise and self-regulation for controlling eating. The addition of the group as a predictor significantly increased the explained variances. Increase in self-regulation for exercise significantly mediated the prediction of increased exercise via earlier reduction in negative mood. When group was entered into that model, it significantly moderated the mood-self-regulation and mood-exercise relationships. Increase in self-regulation for controlling eating significantly mediated the prediction of increase in fruit/vegetable intake via reduction in negative mood. Group marginally moderated the mood-self-regulation relationship only. Findings supported viability of the mood-behavior model in a field-based setting and suggested a need to facilitate improved mood to increase participants’ self-regulatory skill usage within obesity treatments.