Abstract
The present research reveals the bi-directional relationship between career-related control beliefs and strivings, and their
predictive relationship with hours of gainful employment. Three waves of data of a longitudinal study of 532 graduating high
school seniors from four ethnically diverse schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District were analyzed using structural
equation modeling. The results show individuals’ career-related personal control beliefs in effort and social connections,
but not in ability or luck, were significantly predictive of career-related control strivings 1 year later. Thus, only personal
control beliefs in causal factors that are contingent on an individual’s primary control strivings to enact effects are predictive
of active motivational engagement in pursuit of career-related goals. Regarding the inverse direction of influence (i.e.,
strivings predict beliefs), career-related control strivings were significantly predictive of career-related personal control
beliefs in ability, effort, and social connections, but not luck, 1 year later. These results support the idea that active
goal engagement creates an implemental mindset that optimistically biases individuals’ beliefs in their personal control over
causal factors relevant to attaining a pursued career-related goal. In addition, the results show that career-related control
strivings, but not career-related personal control beliefs, are significantly positively associated with the number of hours
of gainful employment worked 1-year later, supporting a beliefs-strivings-outcome sequential relationship.
predictive relationship with hours of gainful employment. Three waves of data of a longitudinal study of 532 graduating high
school seniors from four ethnically diverse schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District were analyzed using structural
equation modeling. The results show individuals’ career-related personal control beliefs in effort and social connections,
but not in ability or luck, were significantly predictive of career-related control strivings 1 year later. Thus, only personal
control beliefs in causal factors that are contingent on an individual’s primary control strivings to enact effects are predictive
of active motivational engagement in pursuit of career-related goals. Regarding the inverse direction of influence (i.e.,
strivings predict beliefs), career-related control strivings were significantly predictive of career-related personal control
beliefs in ability, effort, and social connections, but not luck, 1 year later. These results support the idea that active
goal engagement creates an implemental mindset that optimistically biases individuals’ beliefs in their personal control over
causal factors relevant to attaining a pursued career-related goal. In addition, the results show that career-related control
strivings, but not career-related personal control beliefs, are significantly positively associated with the number of hours
of gainful employment worked 1-year later, supporting a beliefs-strivings-outcome sequential relationship.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11031-011-9245-6
- Authors
- Jacob Shane, Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California Irvine, 4201 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway (Building #214), Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA
- Jutta Heckhausen, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Jared Lessard, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Chuansheng Chen, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Ellen Greenberger, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Journal Motivation and Emotion
- Online ISSN 1573-6644
- Print ISSN 0146-7239