Self-generated goals and goal process appraisals: Relationships with sociodemographic factors and well-being

Abstract

In this study the full array of personal goals pursued by adolescents was examined using an idiographic goal-elicitation procedure. The aims of the study were twofold. Firstly, we investigated individual differences in self-generated goals and goal process appraisals based on sociodemographic characteristics. Secondly, we investigated the relationship between goal content, goal process appraisals and well-being. Questionnaires were completed by 438 high-school students aged 12 to 19. Girls reported more school, relationship, self and body goals and older students reported more future trajectory goals. In addition, girls and ethnic minority adolescents were more likely to report goal frustration. Well-being was positively associated with goal related self-efficacy and negatively associated with endorsement of self goals, perceived difficulty in goal attainment and goal frustration. These results extend previous findings and suggest that goal-related efficacy, attainment beliefs and impediment to goal pursuit are important factors in adolescent well-being.