Profiles of Health Behavior Motivation in a Chinese Population with Prediabetes and Its Association with Self-Management Ability: Based on Self-Determination Theory

Fang Wu,1,* Juan Zhang,2,* Adan Fu,2 Li Wang,1 Lan Yi,1 Jing Yang,1 Bowen Jiang,1 Lingxue Chen,1 Chengyue Xiong3 1Department of Endocrinology; The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nursing, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China; 3Yangtze University School of Nursing, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Adan Fu, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 26 Shengli Street, Jiangan District, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China, Email 1652261297@qq.com Li Wang, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 26 Shengli Street, Jiangan District, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China, Email 1025853043@qq.comPurpose: Using latent profile analysis (LPA) based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study aimed to explore the profiles of health behavior motivation among Chinese patients with prediabetes and examine the relationship between these profiles and self-management ability.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 335 patients with prediabetes. The questionnaires were used to assess health behavior motivation, self-management ability, satisfaction of basic psychological needs and disease knowledge level. Latent profile analysis was performed based on five subscale scores of the health behavior motivation measure.Results: Three distinct latent profiles were identified: a “Self-Determined” profile (C1,29.55%, n=99), a “Non Self-Determined” profile (C2, 55.82%, n=187), and a “Conflicted” profile (C3, 14.63%, n=49). Patients in the C1 profile demonstrated higher levels of autonomy and competence. Patients in the C2 profile were characterized by better disease knowledge and lower relatedness. Compared to patients in the C3 profile, patients in both the C1 and C2 profiles exhibited significantly lower self-management ability.Conclusion: The heterogeneity in health behavior motivation profiles must be considered in the design and clinical practice of personalized interventions for prediabetes. Profile-specific strategies serve as the foundation for enhancing patients’ self-management ability and sustaining healthy behaviors.Keywords: prediabetes health behavior, motivation, latent profile analysis, self-management