Implementation Planning as a Pathway Between Goal Motivation and Goal Progress for Academic and Physical Activity Goals

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the role of self-concordance and implementation planning on the progress made by university students in the pursuit of their academic and physical activity goals over a 1-month period. A sample of 205 students completed measures of self-concordance at Time 1, and implementation planning and goal progress at Time 2. Results of structural equation modeling analyses indicated that implementation planning partially mediated the relationship between self-concordance and academic goal progress, and fully mediated this relationship for goals related to physical activity. The results attest to the importance of selecting goals that are congruent with the self and the use of planning strategies for the facilitation of goal progress in 2 life domains.