Adaptive self-regulation of unattainable goals: goal disengagement, goal reengagement, and subjective well-being.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Observational cross-sectional and comparative studies (design analogy, non-clinical)
PubMed 15018681 · doi:10.1177/0146167203256921
What was done
Across three observational studies, investigators evaluated the relationship between subjective well-being and two self-regulatory capacities: the ability to disengage from unattainable goals and the capacity to reengage in alternative goals. Study 1 surveyed 115 undergraduate students. Study 2 evaluated these capacities across young and older adults (n = 120). Study 3 examined a clinical-stress context by comparing parents of children with cancer to parents of medically healthy children (n = 45).
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, correlation coefficients, or effect sizes. The authors state that goal disengagement and goal reengagement were associated with ratings of higher subjective well-being, and that disengagement and reengagement exhibited interactive effects on subjective well-being.
Why it matters
Persistent pursuit of impossible goals can contribute to psychological distress; these findings indicate that adaptive self-regulation involves both relinquishing unattainable pursuits and redirecting effort toward new goals.
Limits
The abstract provides no quantitative metrics, effect sizes, or statistical values. The cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions, relying entirely on self-reports across modest sample sizes (n = 45 to 120 per study) without longitudinal tracking.
Cited by
- supports Psychological research demonstrates that individuals who are more adept at disengaging from unattainable goals experience better mental well-being and re-engage in new goals faster.