Guided by self‐determination theory, the aim of this study was to examine whether adolescents’ autonomous motivation for making healthy diet choices mediates the association between parenting practices regarding diet and adolescent food choices. We analyzed data from the NCI FLASHE study, a survey of demographically diverse parents and their adolescent children (N = 1,646 dyads). Path models supported self‐determination theory’s assertion that indirect, encouraging parenting practices fostered internal motivation; in contrast, regulation was both positively and negatively linked to motivation depending on the model. Models also yielded direct paths between parenting practices and healthy and unhealthy diet choices. Overall, regardless of what predicted motivation, adolescents’ autonomous motivation was linked with their consumption of healthier foods and drinks. As such, cultivating a sense of internal motivation during these formative years may put young people on a path toward healthy patterns of self‐regulation later in life.

中文翻译：

---

养育子女的方式，自主动机和青少年的饮食习惯。

在自我决定理论的指导下，本研究的目的是检验青少年进行健康饮食选择的自主动机是否介导关于饮食的父母行为与青少年食物选择之间的联系。我们分析了NCI FLASHE研究的数据，这项研究是针对人口统计学上不同的父母及其青春期的孩子（N = 1,646个二分位数）。路径模型支持自决理论的主张，即间接鼓励父母的养育行为会激发内部动机。相反，根据模型，调节与动机既有积极的联系，也有消极的联系。模型还为养育子女的习惯与健康和不健康的饮食选择之间提供了直接的途径。总体而言，无论预期动机如何，青少年的自主动机都与他们食用更健康的食品和饮料有关。因此，在这些成长的岁月中培养内在动力的意识可能会使年轻人在以后的生活中走上健康的自我调节模式。