Core Self-Evaluations and Job and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Self-Concordance and Goal Attainment.

TLDR

The self‑concordance model, which explains goal‑pursuit motives, serves as the theoretical framework. The study tests a model linking core self‑evaluations to job and life satisfaction. Data were gathered from two longitudinal samples—183 university students and 251 employees—to measure goal attainment and satisfaction. Core self‑evaluations were positively associated with goal self‑concordance, which in turn predicted higher job satisfaction in employees and higher life satisfaction in students.

Abstract

The present study tested a model explaining how the core self-evaluations (i.e., positive self-regard) concept is linked to job and life satisfaction. The self-concordance model, which focuses on motives underlying goal pursuit, was used as an explanatory framework. Data were collected from 2 samples: (a) 183 university students (longitudinal measures of goal attainment and life satisfaction were used) and (b) 251 employees (longitudinal measures of goal attainment and job satisfaction were utilized). In both studies, the core self-evaluations concept was positively related to goal self-concordance, meaning that individuals with positive self-regard were more likely to pursue goals for intrinsic and identified (value-congruent) reasons. Furthermore, in both studies, goal self-concordance was related to satisfaction (job satisfaction in Study 1 and life satisfaction in Study 2).