Know Thyself: Insight Moderates the Relationship Between Goal-Concordant Motivation and Positive Emotions

The present study had three primary objectives: examine goal-concordant motivation throughout the adult lifespan, assess the relationship between goal-concordant motivation and subjective well-being (operationalized as life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect), and examine private self-consciousness (operationalized as insight and rumination) for potential moderation effects on the relationship between goal-concordant motivation and subjective well-being. Data were collected in person and online from 433 participants (55% female) between the ages of 18-79 (M = 31.8, SD = 13.7). Results showed that introjected motivation decreased with age, goal-concordant motivation predicted all aspects of subjective well-being, and private self-consciousness (insight, specifically) had significant moderation effects on the relationship between goal-concordant motivation and positive affect. Findings are discussed with relevance to goal pursuit and attainment, their association to wellbeing, and mindful self-attention that can strengthen the relationship between motivation and positive emotional experience.