Achievement Goals and Subjective Well-Being of University Faculty: A Longitudinal Analysis

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: Motivation and Cognitive Processes in Classrooms

Abstract

Subjective well-being (SWB) of university faculty is crucial for their functioning and success—yet differs substantially among individual faculty members. From a motivational perspective, achievement goals have been found to be important factors related to faculty SWB, however, such relations have only been investigated cross-sectionally. To gain temporal insights into these relations, we assessed 805 faculty members’ achievement goals and SWB at two timepoints throughout the semester. Latent change score analyses showed that learning- and appearance-approach goals at T1 predicted changes in SWB, while SWB at T1 also predicted changes in task-, learning-, and appearance-approach goals, as well as appearance- and work-avoidance goals. These findings suggest that faculty SWB may matter more for goal pursuit than the other way around.

Authors

• Raven Rinas, University of Augsburg

• Lisa Kiltz, University of Groningen

• Markus Dresel, Augsburg University

• Martin Daumiller, University of Augsburg