Mastery orientation predicts greater subjective well-being: perseverance and adaptability as mediators

ABSTRACT

Objective

Existing research demonstrates that being mastery oriented is associated with several academic outcomes such as better engagement and achievement. To date, however, there is a dearth of research evidence on the emotional payoffs of mastery orientation. The current study explored the link between mastery orientation, subjective well-being (SWB), and the mediating functions of perseverance and adaptability.

Method

The study used data from the PISA 2018 dataset and had 6,062 participants, of which 54.4% were female and 46.4% were male. The proposed model was tested using path analysis to determine if perseverance predicts SWB and to examine the mediating roles of perseverance and adaptation.

Results

The results showed that students’ SWB was positively predicted by mastery orientation. Perseverance and adaptability also predicted SWB and served as a partial mediator of between mastery orientation and SWB.

Conclusions

The study advances knowledge of the psychological benefits of students embracing mastery orientation. The findings suggest that pupils who are mastery-oriented not only succeed academically but also report higher levels of subjective well-being. Perseverance and adaptability serve as underlying psychological mechanisms in this relationship.

KEY POINTS

What is already known about this topic:

1. Pupils may adopt either a mastery goal or a performance goal. The type of goal held by a student explains differences in academic success and psychological adjustment in the school setting.

2. Research conducted among Filipino students show that mastery-oriented goals are associated with positive academic outcomes, including higher motivation, better learning strategies, and improved academic performance.

3. Mastery goals are linked to increased perseverance (the tendency to persevere towards long-term goals) and adaptability (the ability to handle new and unfamiliar situations), which are considered important factors for academic and career success.

What this topic adds:

1. Adopting mastery-oriented goals is not only beneficial for academic outcomes but also positively influences subjective well-being (SWB), including life satisfaction and positive affect. This finding extends the research evidence beyond academic consequences.

2. The positive impact of mastery goals on well-being is partially explained by the increased perseverance and adaptability observed in individuals who prioritise mastery.

3. The present study was conducted in the Southeast Asian setting, which addresses the dearth in goal orientation literature in collectivistic societies such as the Philippines.

KEYWORDS:

• Mastery orientation
• perseverance
• adaptability
• well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The PISA 2018 data that was used in the present study can be downloaded from the OECD website: https://www.oecd.org/pisa/data/2018database/.

Additional information

Funding

The study did not receive funding from any individual or organization.