Within-Person Relationship Between Career Goal Feedback and Career-Related Stress: A Weekly Survey Study

Abstract

Based on social-cognitive and general self-regulation theories, this study examined the underlying mechanisms of the within-person relationship between negative career goal feedback and career-related stress. Using a sample of young adults and a weekly survey study with four measurements (212 observations), we found that negative feedback on career progress and poor feedback on improvements needed for career progress related to more career stress, and that career-related self-efficacy mediated the link between feedback on improvements needed and stress. In addition, trait optimism buffered the link between negative feedback on progress and stress. These findings highlight important roles for career feedback and optimism in young people's career self-regulation.