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The Effects of Short-Term Personal Goals on Subjective Well-Being

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Abstract

Several studies demonstrated that subjective well-being is associated with goal value and perceived progress but their validity is affected by methodological biases. Moreover, a few have analysed the influence of short-term goals. We aimed to analyse how the levels of and changes in short-term goals progress and value influence subsequent levels of and changes in subjective well-being. This study adopted a three-wave longitudinal design with one-month intervals. Four hundred nine participants (186 males; age 19–71) reported their subjective well-being and their two most important goals and rated each over time in terms of value and progress. A latent difference score model revealed that levels and increases in goal progress positively influenced subsequent levels of subjective well-being. Goal value increases led to decreases in negative affect. These findings provide insights on the promotion of subjective well-being. Given the importance of goal progress in promoting subjective well-being, we propose the implementation of goal-setting programmes that are aimed at fostering successful goal pursuit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Milano – Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milan, Italy

    P. Steca, D. Monzani, A. Greco, M. D’Addario, E. Cappelletti & L. Pancani

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  1. P. Steca
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  2. D. Monzani
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  3. A. Greco
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  5. E. Cappelletti
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  6. L. Pancani
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Correspondence to P. Steca.

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Steca, P., Monzani, D., Greco, A. et al. The Effects of Short-Term Personal Goals on Subjective Well-Being. J Happiness Stud 17, 1435–1450 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-015-9651-7

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