Motivational Self-Regulation in the Work Domain: Congruence of Individuals’ Control Striving and the Control Potential in Their Developmental Ecologies

Abstract

Individual agents are most effective in shaping their development if their goal engagement is congruent with their control opportunities. This proposition is examined using the Midlife in the United States longitudinal study. We find that individuals whose high levels of work-related primary control striving are congruent with their work-related perceived control report the most positive work and health outcomes. Individuals who invest high work-related primary control striving under conditions of low work-related perceived control attained upward career mobility, but their low control opportunities undermined the sustainability of strong primary control striving and led to detrimental mental and physical health effects.