Linking Goal Progress to Subjective Well-Being at Work: The Moderating Role of Goal-Related Self-Efficacy and Attainability

Although goal progress is often hypothesized to be positively linked to well-being, existing research points to an inconsistent relationship and suggests that potential moderators need to be examined. This longitudinal study investigated whether 2 aspects of pal cognition-goal attainability and self-efficacy-influence the relationship between goal progress and well-being (viz., job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion) in a sample of 172 nurses. Work goal progress was not directly associated with well-being. Rather, the link between goal progress and wellbeing was moderated by goal cognition. Individuals who started off with unfavorable goal cognitions but who managed to achieve goal progress reported an increase in well-being, compared with those who had favorable goal cognitions and similar rates of progress. Progress appears to have compensated for low initial goal cognition in the prediction of well-being. and high initial goal cognition appears to have undermined this predictive relationship. Also. goal progress was associated with an increase in self-efficacy and goal attainability from Time I to Time 2. Results are discussed in relation to goal theories and the concept of self-correcting goal cycles.