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Digitale Dissertation

Michaela Riediger :
On the dynamic relations among multiple goals
Intergoal conflict and intergoal facilitation in younger and older adulthood
Zur Dynamik multipler Ziele im frühen und späten Erwachsenenalter

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Abstract

How do people influence their own development within biological, societal, and resource constraints? The action-theoretical conceptualization of the model of selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC-model; M. M. Baltes & P. B. Baltes, 1990; Freund & P. B. Baltes, 2000) proposes that setting and pursuing personal goals plays an important role in this respect. People usually have more than one goal at a time. The present study investigated how the relations among goals affect adaptive life management. Such relations can take the form of conflict, mutual facilitation, or independence. To obtain objective information on the participant?s goal involvement, I used the goal of starting to exercise as a common goal for all participants. Younger (n = 99; M = 25 years) and older (n = 46; M = 64 years) exercise beginners participated in a questionnaire study with two sessions at an average interval of 4.2 months. A subsample of 52 younger and 29 older participants also took part in a diary phase. All participants reported three personal goals besides the common goal of starting to exercise. Of prime interest were the interrelations among these four goals (one exercise goal and three additional goals). Through use of a new assessment instrument, the study showed that two independent properties can be used to characterize intergoal relations: the degree to which a person?s goals conflict with each other, and the degree to which these goals facilitate each other. Both intergoal conflict and intergoal facilitation were related to indicators of effective life management. Intergoal conflict was negatively related to various facets of psychological well-being. Intergoal facilitation was associated with an increased intensity in pursuing one?s goals (according to subjective and objective indicators). Older adults tended to report less intergoal conflict and more intergoal facilitation than younger adults. They also were more effective in maintaining their desired change in lifestyle (i.e., regular physical exercise) over a longer period of time. The more integrated goal relations of older participants appear to play a decisive role in their higher exercise adherence. In all, the results are in line with developmental theories that propose that adult development is not only characterized by developmental losses, but also by a potential for developmental gains (e.g., increasing goal integration and life-management competence). The results further show that the selection of nonconflicting and facilitative goals helps people in their attempts to actively influence their own life course.

Table of Contents

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Title page and contents

Acknowledgments

Abstract

Zusammenfassung

1. Introduction

2. Theoretical Considerations

2.1. Goals, Action, and Development
2.2. How Does One Know a Behavior Is "Adaptive"?
2.3. The Model of Selection, Optimization, and Compensation
2.4. Characteristics of Adaptive Goal Selection
2.5. Relations Among Multiple Goals
2.6. Toward an Expanded Assessment of Intergoal Relations: Potential Sources of Conflict and Facilitation
2.7. A Preliminary Working Model
2.8. Intergoal Relations in Younger and Older Adults
2.9. Potential Antecedents of Intergoal Conflict
2.10. Intergoal Conflict and Adaptive Life Management
2.11. A Shared Goal: Intention to Start Regular Physical Exercise
2.12. Summary of the Theoretical Background, Research Questions, and Hypotheses

3. Method

3.1. Study Part 1: Short-Term Longitudinal Questionnaire Study
3.2. Study Part 2: Diary Phase
3.3. Ruling Out a Methodological Concern: "Intervention Effects" of the Diary Phase?
3.4. General Statistical Procedures

4. Results

4.1. Study Part 1: Short-Term Longitudinal Questionnaire Study
4.2. Study Part 2: Diary Phase

5. Discussion

5.1. The Independence of Intergoal Conflict and Facilitation
5.2. Intergoal Relations in Younger and Older Adults
5.3. Intergoal Relations and Adaptive Life Management
5.4. Conclusions
5.5. Outlook

6. References

7. Appendices

7.1. Appendix A: Additional Information on Instruments in Study Part 1
7.2. Appendix B: Description of Variables in Study Part 1
7.3. Appendix C: Age-Group Differences in Intergoal Conflict and Facilitation After Excluding the Exercise Goal
7.4. Appendix D: Additional Control Analyses in Study Part 1
7.5. Appendix E: Description of Variables in Study Part 2
7.6. Appendix F: Additional Control Analyses in Study Part 2

More Information:

Online available: http://www.diss.fu-berlin.de/2001/266/indexe.html
Language of PhDThesis: english
Keywords: personal goals, intergoal conflict and facilitation, adult development, exercise, diary study
DNB-Sachgruppe: 22 Erziehung, Bildung, Unterricht
Date of disputation: 15-Oct-2001
PhDThesis from: Fachbereich Erziehungswissenschaft und Psychologie, Freie Universität Berlin
First Referee: Prof. Dr. Paul B. Baltes
Second Referee: Prof. Dr. Ralf Schwarzer
Contact (Author): riediger@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
Contact (Advisor): freund@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
Date created:12-Dec-2001
Date available:14-Dec-2001

 

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