College is a period where many students struggle with life satisfaction or satisfaction with their weight. Low life satisfaction has been associated with depression and suicidal thoughts. There is evidence that higher levels of both exercise motivation and self-regulation correlate with higher levels of life satisfaction. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate how an online delivery of a self-regulation intervention would impact life satisfaction in college students.

All participants were Rowan students 18 years of age or older. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to week-long sessions after participation in a pre-test. There were two groups, one, the control group that did a ten-minute daily free write and second, a treatment group that did a daily food/exercise log. Post-tests were administered one week after pre-test. Levels of life satisfaction, self-regulation, and exercise motivation are measured at pre- and post-test for both groups. Preliminary analyses verified the relationship between life satisfaction and exercise motivation.

Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the differences in post-tests between the groups, with self-regulation acting as a mediator between exercise motivation and life satisfaction. We expect to have preliminary findings by the date of the conference.

Authors: Emily Wright & Ryan Janesko