Motivation Science, Vol 12(3), Sep 2026, 343-360; doi:10.1037/mot0000419
The purpose of this research was to examine the role of passion and mastery goals in the self-growth process. Study 1 (Sample 1A: N = 633; Sample 1B: N = 247) validated a new measure of self-growth as a subjective assessment of continuous self-growth both within a specific activity (Contextual Self-Growth) and at the person level (Global Self-Growth) through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Study 1 also showed that harmonious passion (HP) was positively associated with contextual self-growth, while obsessive passion was weakly associated with it. In turn, contextual self-growth was positively related to global self-growth. Studies 2 (N = 817) and 3 (longitudinal design, N = 434) investigated the mediating role of achievement goals, particularly mastery goals, in the relationships between passion and self-growth. The results of Study 2 showed that HP promoted mastery goals that led to contextual self-growth. In turn, contextual self-growth predicted global self-growth. These results were fully replicated using a 9-month longitudinal study (Study 3). In addition, HP protected against the negative effects of performance-avoidance goals on self-growth (Study 2 only). In contrast, obsessive passion led to self-growth via performance-approach goals, and hindered self-growth via performance-avoidance goals (Study 2 only). In sum, these findings highlight the importance of differentiating between contextual and global self-growth as an outcome, as well as the more adaptive role of HP and mastery goals in fostering both contextual and global self-growth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)