Abstract versus concrete goals: Personal striving level, physical illness, and psychological well-being.
Abstract
This study examined the relation between personal striving level and psychological and physical well-being. Level refers to the degree of generality versus specificity of one's goal strivings. In 3 studies, 188 Ss generated lists of their personal strivings, which were then rated on specificity level. High-level striving was associated with more psychological distress, particularly depression. Low-level striving was related to higher levels of physical illness. Correlations between striving level and self-reported symptoms were generally not as strong as those between level and the more objective illness indicators. High-level strivings were seen as more difficult and requiring more effort than low-level strivings. Results are interpreted in terms of control theory, goal-setting theory, and the repressive personality style.
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The intervention developed by the authors shows promise for improving psychological well-being in people under significant life stress.
“We have developed an intervention consisting of skills to increase positive emotion that shows promise for improving psychological well being in people experiencing significant life stress [16,17,18].”
From An online positive affect skills intervention reduces depression in adults with type 2 diabetes (2014) · cites this paper as [16]
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References 34 · Cited by 411
- Authors
- Emmons, R. A.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Emmons, Robert A.
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 1992
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 292-300
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2048033545
- Cited by
- 411
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 18
- Type
- conference abstract
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Human Behavior and Motivation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
- Keywords
- personal strivings, goal specificity, psychological distress, depression, physical illness, psychological well-being, goal setting theory, control theory
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Aspirations, Psychological, Concept Formation, Depression, Female, Goals, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Personality Assessment, Sick Role, Social Adjustment, Somatoform Disorders, Thinking
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