UNABLE TO REGULATE? COMMUNICATE!: A STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTION REGULATION AND GOAL COMMUNICATION MOTIVES, AND THE MODERATING ROLE OF RESILIENCE IN GOAL-STRIVING INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

Despite the extensive literature on the vital roles of emotion regulation and resilience in goal pursuit, little has been done to explore how these might influence the manner in which goal striving individuals might communicate about their goals to others. The present study sought to fill this gap in the literature by exploring how individual differences in emotion regulation might affect one’s goal communication motives, as well as how resilience might moderate this relationship. The findings revealed that difficulties in emotion regulation positively predicted one’s goal communication motives, and individuals with difficulties in emotion regulation were more likely to communicate about their goals to seek certainty when they also had low resilience. As the ability to regulate one’s emotions and one’s resilience is crucial to achieving success in goal pursuit, the findings provide evidence for the usage of goal communication as an alternative form of emotion regulation, and the utility of building one’s resilience in goal pursuit. Implications for future research on the role of resilience in goal communication are discussed.