The journey or the destination? Initial evidence on goal focus in adolescence

The ability to set and pursue goals, termed intentional self-regulation, is a critical skill in adolescence that has been linked to long-term positive development. Less is known about goal focus, defined as formulating a goal in terms of the process or outcome of goal, in adolescence. Past research has observed that a process focus is linked with positive goal-related outcomes in adult samples, but few studies have examined adolescent goal focus. This is a critical gap, as past literature indicates that young adults tend to formulate their goals in terms of the outcomes, when a process focus may be more beneficial. The purpose of this dissertation work was to address these gaps in the literature by providing preliminary evidence on the goal focus in adolescence. Three research questions were investigated. First, are adolescents more likely to demonstrate a preference for a process or outcome goal focus? Second, what are the effects of adolescent goal focus on goal pursuit? Third, is goal focus significantly associated with backup planning? These results provide guidelines for future research and intervention programs aimed at supporting adolescent goal pursuit.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Fleming Hoff, Bethany Joy

Contributors dc:contributor

• Napolitano, Christopher M
• Ruedas-Gracia, Nidia
• Perry, Michelle
• Pomerantz, Eva

• goal focus
• adolescence

Statement dc:rights

• 2021 Bethany Joy Fleming Hoff

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110687

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F110687