The relationship between achievement goals and meaningful work

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing social movement in Japan to develop better work styles. With this background, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between achievement goals and meaningful work in Japan to replicate studies conducted in the West. In addition, we also examined whether an occupational classification moderates the relationship between achievement goals and meaningful work. To this end, we conducted a web survey comprising of blue- and white-collar workers (N = 792) aged 19 to 69. Multiple regression analysis showed that mastery-approach and performance-approach goals were relatively strongly related to meaningful work. Additionally, among white-collar workers, it was observed that performance-approach goals had a positive relationship with meaningful work while performance-avoidance goals had a negative relationship. These results suggested that, in Japan, both mastery-approach and mastery-avoidance goals are related to meaningful work, and that the relationship between performance goals and meaningful work differs based on the goals in the occupation.