Goal Adjustment and Subjective Well-Being in Adulthood

Abstract: Studies on motivational development in adulthood often use self-report measures to examine the relationship between aspects of goal adjustment (accommodative coping, detachment from goals, goal pursuit), and well-being. Most have focused on how tendencies in general goal adjustment regulate subjective well-being. The present study examined the longitudinal associations between well-being (life satisfaction, positive affect) and goal adjustment and between accommodative coping and goal pursuit. Variables were assessed in a three-wave longitudinal study (intervals of about 1 year) with a sample of N = 305 adults aged 30–78 years. Longitudinal effects were computed with latent growth models. Results showed that increases in well-being predicted increases in goal pursuit and accommodative coping (positive reappraisal/personal growth, acceptance, reorientation). Increases in accommodative coping predicted increases in goal pursuit and goal detachment. The initial level of goal pursuit predicted decreases in accommodative coping, and the initial level of accommodative coping predicted increases in well-being. In sum, the study demonstrated that subjective well-being is a resource for goal pursuit and accommodative coping, but also that an increase in well-being profits from both. The study provided evidence for the growing relationships of goal adjustment facets.