Realization of affiliation goals, interpersonal identity development, and well-being: effects of the implicit affiliation motive among German and Zambian adolescents

TL;DR

This study explores how successfully achieving social goals affects adolescents' identity and well-being, especially for those with a strong desire for affiliation.

Contribution

The study reveals that implicit affiliation motives moderate the relationship between goal success and identity commitment across cultures.

Findings

Successful affiliation goal attainment is linked to identity commitment and well-being.

The strength of implicit affiliation motives strengthens these relationships.

Findings are consistent across individualistic and collectivistic cultural contexts.

Abstract

Across various cultural contexts, success in goal realization relates to individuals’ well-being. Moreover, commitment to and successful pursuance of goals are crucial when searching for a meaningful identity in adolescence. However, individuals’ goals differ in how much they match their implicit motive dispositions. We hypothesized that successful pursuance of affiliation goals positively relates to commitment-related dimensions of interpersonal identity development (domain: close friends) that, in turn, predict adolescents’ level of well-being. However, we further assumed that the links between goal success and identity commitment are particularly pronounced among adolescents who are characterized by a high implicit affiliation motive.

To scrutinize the generalizability of the assumed relationships, data were assessed among adolescents in individualistic (Germany) and collectivistic (Zambia) cultural contexts.

Regardless of adolescents’ cultural background, we found that commitment-related dimensions of interpersonal identity development mediate the link between successful attainment of affiliation goals and well-being, particularly among adolescents with a pronounced implicit affiliation motive; that is, the strength of the implicit affiliation motive moderates the association between goal success and identity commitment.

We discuss findings concerning universal effects of implicit motives on identity commitment and well-being.

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