Page No.63-71
Rakesh Pandey and Shipra Singh
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur
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The present research explores the effect of the discrepancy between self-set
goals and goals set by parents on subjective well-being (SWB) of young
individuals. It was hypothesized that discrepancy between self and parents in
setting life goals for an individual will increase negative emotional experience
and adversely affect the SWB of the individual concerned. It is further hypothesized
that the SWB would increase if one feels that his/her progress towards goals
set by parents is satisfactory. To test these hypotheses 45 students in the age
range of 19 to 21 years were assessed on various measures of SWB. In addition
to it they were asked to write, in order of importance, 10 life goals set by
themselves (self-set goals) and that set by their parents (parent-set goals).
After getting the list of life goals (self and parent set goals) the respondents
were asked to rate (on 5-point scale) the importance given to the two sets of life
goals (self and parent set goals) by themselves as well as by their parents.
They also rated the satisfaction with the progress towards these two set of life
goals. The findings revealed that as the discrepancy between parents and their
offspring, in terms of importance attached to life goals, increases the SWB of
the latter decreases. However, satisfaction with the progress towards the life
goals, either set by oneself or set by their parents, was found to be associated
with greater happiness and SWB of the individual. The theoretical implications
of the findings for the SWB of Indians have been discussed
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