title: Unconflicted goal striving: goal ambivalence as a mediator between goal self-concordance and well-being.
abstract: This research introduces low goal ambivalence as a relevant correlate of goal self-concordance. In three studies, we tested the hypothesis that university freshmen's ambivalence toward the goal of completing their degree mediates the effect of goal self-concordance on subjective well-being. In Studies 1 and 2, differences in goal ambivalence accounted for effects of goal self-concordance on concurrent life satisfaction and affect at the end of the freshman year. Study 3 evidenced a longitudinal mediation effect of goal ambivalence on 1-year post-entry increases in life and study satisfaction, which were explained through perceptions of goal progress at the end of the freshman year. Decomposing self-concordance into autonomous and controlled motivation revealed non-redundant parallel effects for both subcomponents. These results point to ambivalence as a significant experience in goal pursuit and suggest that it represents an additional explanatory variable in the self-concordance model of goal striving and longitudinal well-being.
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Svenja H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Koletzko
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Switzerland v.brandstaetter@psychologie.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brandstätter
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009042:Motivation; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: autonomous motivation; controlled motivation; goal ambivalence; goal self-concordance; well-being