The Relation of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Aspirations to Adolescent Life Satisfaction

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to examine the relationships between aspirations and life satisfaction in high school students. Specifically, we have tried to determine to what extent different life goals predict adolescent overall life satisfaction as well as satisfaction with different life domains (family, friends, and school). Based on previous studies with adolescents, we hypothesized that students will generally value intrinsic goals at a higher level than extrinsic goals. Also, we hypothesized that students who especially value intrinsic goals have higher life satisfaction, whereas the reverse is true for a focus on extrinsic goals. The final purpose of this study was to examine potential differences between adolescent girls and boys in terms of their life goals and satisfaction with life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved). (chapter)