Goal pursuit in young adulthood: The role of personality and motivation in goal appraisal trajectories across 6 years

• We examined changes in the appraisals of personal goals during young adulthood.
• Goal investment and momentum were high and stable, goal stress declined.
• Personality traits of efficacy and self-criticism predicted goal appraisals.
• Amotivation and autonomous but not controlled motivation predicted goal appraisals.
• Autonomous motivation mediated the effect of efficacy on goal investment.

The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine changes in the appraisals of personal goals during young adulthood, and to investigate personality and motivation as predictors of goal appraisals. Israeli young adults (N = 284, 46% female) were assessed four times during ages 23–29 and reported on their goal appraisals (goal investment, goal momentum and goal stress), personality (efficacy and self-criticism) and motivation (autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, amotivation). The results showed mean stability for goal investment and momentum, whereas goal stress declined. Efficacy predicted higher goal investment and momentum 6 years later, while self-criticism accounted for individual differences in goal stress. Autonomous motivation predicted higher goal investment and momentum, while amotivation related to higher goal stress.