The Relations Between Future Life Goals and Engagement and Burnout: The Mediating Role of Intrinsic Motivation

• In Event: Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: Motivation in Education SIG Poster Session 2

Abstract

The present study investigated the relations between long-term future goals and students’ current levels of engagement and burnout. The mediating role of intrinsic motivation was examined. The data were collected from 1,242 Chinese Medical University students. Path model confirmed that the nature of future life goals was linked to students’ vigorous engagement and burnout and intrinsic motivation mediated the relation. Consistent with prior research, extrinsic future life goals predicted undesirable pattern of engagement via less self-determined motivation. Future life goals in intrinsic nature predicted the opposite pattern and the relations were mediated through more self-determined motivation. Path models were estimated using both raw scores and individual mean-centered scores of future life goals, providing important insight regarding goal hierarchy within individuals.

Authors

• Sungok Serena Shim, Ball State University

• YoonJung Cho, Sungshin University

• Cen Wang, Charles Sturt University

• Xiao-Guang Xu

• Ming Zhong