Research suggests self-management skills and a sense of purpose are closely linked

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Goal-oriented people tend to have better outcomes in life. One reason is that having a sense of purpose is a skill that produces positive results.
But psychologists need to understand which other skills overlap with a sense of purpose, and what social and emotional influences influence the ability to set goals for a broader purpose and carry out those goals. , we would like to clarify whether behavioral (SEB) skills are connected.
To that end, psychology researchers Patrick Hill and Jennifer Beatty of Washington University in St. Louis led a study of 400 college students. They started by surveying 200 WashU undergraduates and 200 other college students across the country. They were surveyed about their sense of purpose and answered questions related to attributes such as SEB skills, self-management, collaboration, and emotional resilience. The study also assessed students’ sense of well-being and academic performance.
Putting all this together, it becomes increasingly clear that there is overlap between a sense of purpose and SEB skills, especially self-management skills. Researchers also found that a sense of purpose was consistently associated with higher life satisfaction among college students. Contrary to researchers’ predictions, there was limited evidence linking a sense of purpose to students’ GPAs and degree completion potential.
This study is a way to connect the study of sense of purpose with an increasingly prevalent trend in educational psychology that emphasizes the development of social-emotional and behavioral skills, says Psychology in the Arts and Sciences. said Hill, professor of neuroscience and co-author of the paper. The study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
One of the reasons educational psychologists are increasingly focusing on studying SEB rather than “personality traits” is that these skills are meant to be taught, and goal setting is potentially malleable. That’s because it’s a trait, Hill said.
Rather than viewing personality as a fixed unit, psychologists are increasingly interested in how to change a person’s mindset for improvement. Because culture and class shape personality from day one, humans are in many ways constantly exposed to “personality intervention,” something Hill often reminds students in his psychology classes.
It’s not about changing your personality. “We are changing skills and giving new skills,” he said.
Beatty, a doctoral candidate in psychology and brain sciences at WashU and a co-author with Hill, is very interested in understanding the skills associated with “regulatory capacity.”
“What can people control and motivate themselves to do?” Beatty said. “Just because you have a sense of purpose doesn’t mean it’s easy, especially when you’re faced with challenges,” she says.
This study found a strong overlap between “self-management” skills and a sense of purpose. People with these skills may be able to more easily overcome the urge to pursue more immediate goals, Beatty added.
The study examined five major categories of social, emotional, and behavioral skills. They include:
Social engagement. Reflects leadership and conversational skills as well as the ability to relate to others. Collaborative skills include the ability to maintain positive social relationships, build and demonstrate trust, and take on the perspective of others. Self-management skills, including goal-directed behavior. You can complete tasks on time and be persistent towards long-term goals. Emotional resilience. It focuses on the ability to cope with stress and regulate emotions. Innovation skills, including the ability to think abstractly and creatively.
It’s intuitive that self-management skills are linked to having a strong sense of purpose, but this research confirms that they overlap. But researchers also found a strong link between people having a sense of purpose and social participation skills. They found little association with collaborative skills or emotional resilience, and, as they predicted, innovation skills were not consistently associated with a sense of purpose.
By identifying the specific skills needed for long-term goal setting, researchers may be able to guide young people to find their own “sense of purpose.”
Beatty and Hill are developing an educational module for college students to do just that. No matter how organized you are by nature, you can discover new goals and a sense of purpose throughout your life.
Even at a young age, a person must learn to prioritize. A sense of purpose helps individuals decide how to regulate their behavior to achieve goals, Beatty said.
“Being able to focus your life and energy on things that are important to you is a real skill,” she says.
Further information: Jennifer F. Beatty et al., Sense of Purpose, Social-Emotional Behavioral Skills, Personality, and Individual Differences in College (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2024.112870
Provided by Washington University in St. Louis
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