This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (27) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Salmela-Aro, K. Articles by Nurmi, J.-E. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Goal Contents, Well-being, and Life Context During Transition to University: A Longitudinal Study

University of Helsinki, Finland

Jari-Erik Nurmi

University of Helsinki, Finland

To examine the relationships between young adults’ goal contents, their life situation, experienced life events, and subjective well-being, 256 university students filled in the Little’s Personal Project Analysis (PPA), the revised Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale (RSE), and a background questionnaire at the beginning of their studies. One year later, they also completed a life event scale (LES). Two years later, they again filled in the PPA, BDI, RSE, LES, and a background questionnaire. The results showed that an earlier life situation such as being married and having children was associated with interest in family-related goals, which again predicted subsequent transitions in this life domain. Moreover, goals that concern major age-graded developmental tasks, such as a future family, were found to predict high subjective well-being. In turn, high subjective well-being also predicted interest in these types of goals. By way of contrast, low self-esteem predicted interest in self-related goals, which again were associated with low well-being later on.

International Journal of Behavioral Development, Vol. 20, No. 3, 471-491 (1997)
DOI: 10.1080/016502597385234


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. S. Yeager and M. J. Bundick The Role of Purposeful Work Goals in Promoting Meaning in Life and in Schoolwork During Adolescence Journal of Adolescent Research, July 1, 2009; 24(4): 423 - 452. [Abstract] [PDF]

				O. Ludtke, U. Trautwein, and N. Husemann Goal and Personality Trait Development in a Transitional Period: Assessing Change and Stability in Personality Development Pers Soc Psychol Bull, April 1, 2009; 35(4): 428 - 441. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Salmela-Aro, K. Aunola, and J.-E. Nurmi Personal Goals During Emerging Adulthood: A 10-Year Follow Up Journal of Adolescent Research, November 1, 2007; 22(6): 690 - 715. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Boehnke, T. Munch, and D. Hoffmann Development through media use? A German study on the use of radio in adolescence International Journal of Behavioral Development, May 1, 2002; 26(3): 193 - 201. [Abstract] [PDF]