GOAL COMMUNICATION AS A MEANS OF EMOTION REGULATION: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GOAL-SHARING MOTIVES

Abstract

Despite the prevalence of goal-sharing behaviours, goal communication remains a relatively understudied area of research. Recent studies have begun to look into the regulatory functions of goal communication, and how such motivations might be related to other goal-related outcomes and factors. The present study sought to contribute to this growing body of research by exploring how individuals’ difficulties in emotion regulation may influence their desires to share about their goal experiences with others as a way to cope with their negative emotions. Undergraduate students (N = 540) from the National University of Singapore were tasked to complete a self-reported questionnaire that measured their difficulties in emotion regulation, goal-sharing motives, and goal-sharing tendencies. The findings revealed that goals-sharing motives mediated the positive relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and goal-sharing tendencies. A follow-up exploratory analysis showed that such a mediation effect was driven by the motivation to seek emotional support or to vent one’s feelings. Given that the ability to regulate one’s emotions in the face of setbacks is crucial for successful goal pursuit, the findings underscore the potential utility of goal-sharing as an interpersonal means of emotional coping. Implications for future research on the regulatory functions of goal communication are discussed.