Have You Set Your Life Priorities Straight?: Intergenerational Differences in Life Goals among European and East Asian Americans College Students and their Mothers

Abstract

We examined ethnic differences in (a) the life goals of college-enrolled youth as well as their mothers’ goals for them, (b) intergenerational similarity in life goals, and (c) the association between intergenerational similarity in life goal priorities and parent-adolescent relationships and psychological adjustment. East Asian American youth and their mothers (EA-Ams) and European American youth and their mothers (Euro-Ams) rated the importance of life goals and reported upon their depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and relationship quality. Results indicated that family and mate selection goals were more important for EA-Ams. Intergenerational similarity in achievement-related goals was higher for Euro-Ams whereas similarity in family-related goals was higher for EA-Ams. Intergenerational similarities in life goal priorities were differentially correlated with select outcomes.