Abstract
Setting clear achievable goals that enhance self-efficacy and reputational status directs the energies of adolescents into
socially conforming or non-conforming activities. This present study investigates the characteristics and relationships between
goal setting and self-efficacy among a matched sample of 88 delinquent (18 % female), 97 at-risk (20 % female), and 95 not
at-risk adolescents (20 % female). Four hypotheses related to this were tested. Findings revealed that delinquent adolescents
reported fewest goals, set fewer challenging goals, had a lower commitment to their goals, and reported lower levels of academic
and self-regulatory efficacy than those in the at-risk and not at-risk groups. Discriminant function analysis indicated that
adolescents who reported high delinquency goals and low educational and interpersonal goals were likely to belong to the delinquent
group, while adolescents who reported high educational and interpersonal goals and low delinquency goals were likely to belong
to the not at-risk group. The at-risk and not at-risk groups could not be differentiated. A multinomial logistic regression
also revealed that adolescents were more likely to belong to the delinquent group if they reported lower self-regulatory efficacy
and lower goal commitment. These findings have important implications for the development of prevention and intervention programs,
particularly for those on a trajectory to delinquency. Specifically, programs should focus on assisting adolescents to develop
clear self-set achievable goals and support them through the process of attaining them, particularly if the trajectory towards
delinquency is to be addressed.
socially conforming or non-conforming activities. This present study investigates the characteristics and relationships between
goal setting and self-efficacy among a matched sample of 88 delinquent (18 % female), 97 at-risk (20 % female), and 95 not
at-risk adolescents (20 % female). Four hypotheses related to this were tested. Findings revealed that delinquent adolescents
reported fewest goals, set fewer challenging goals, had a lower commitment to their goals, and reported lower levels of academic
and self-regulatory efficacy than those in the at-risk and not at-risk groups. Discriminant function analysis indicated that
adolescents who reported high delinquency goals and low educational and interpersonal goals were likely to belong to the delinquent
group, while adolescents who reported high educational and interpersonal goals and low delinquency goals were likely to belong
to the not at-risk group. The at-risk and not at-risk groups could not be differentiated. A multinomial logistic regression
also revealed that adolescents were more likely to belong to the delinquent group if they reported lower self-regulatory efficacy
and lower goal commitment. These findings have important implications for the development of prevention and intervention programs,
particularly for those on a trajectory to delinquency. Specifically, programs should focus on assisting adolescents to develop
clear self-set achievable goals and support them through the process of attaining them, particularly if the trajectory towards
delinquency is to be addressed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-012-9799-y
- Authors
- Annemaree Carroll, School of Education, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Kellie Gordon, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Michele Haynes, Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Stephen Houghton, Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891