Research article summary (published 6 Apr 2008):

Goal striving within agentic and communal roles: separate but functionally similar pathways to enhanced well-being.

Full Abstract

Do agency and communion strivings provide functionally similar but predictively independent pathways to enhanced well-being? We tested this idea via a year-long study of 493 diverse community adults. Our process model, based on self-determination and motive disposition theories, fit the data well. First, the need for achievement predicted initial autonomous motivation for agentic (work and school) role-goals and the need for intimacy predicted felt autonomy for communal (relationship and parenting) goals. For both agentic and communal goals, autonomous motivation predicted corresponding initial expectancies that predicted later goal attainment. Finally, each type of attainment predicted improved adjustment or role-satisfaction over the year. Besides being similar across agency and communion, the model was also similar across race and gender, except that the beneficial effects of communal goal attainment were stronger for high need for intimacy women and Blacks. Implications for agency/communion theories, motivation theories, and theories of well-being are discussed.

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Author information

Author/s: Sheldon, Kennon M (KM); Cooper, M Lynne (ML);

Affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA. sheldonk(-atsign-)missouri.edu

Grants: AA08047 (Agency:United States NIAAA) ; CG004975 (Agency:United States PHS) ; MH069118 (Agency:United States NIMH)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of personality (J Pers), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jun; vol 76 (issue 3) : pp 415-48

Dates: Created 2008/05/01; Completed 2008/07/24;

PMID: 18399957, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Achievement Adolescent Adult African Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data Aspirations (Psychology) European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data Female Humans

Humans Internal-External Control Interpersonal Relations Longitudinal Studies Male Personal Autonomy Questionnaires Self Concept

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