The dual role of motivation on goals and well-being in higher vocational education students: a self-determination theory perspective
Abstract Students’ well-being has received increasing international attention. However, research on well-being among higher vocational education (HVE) students, particularly in non-WEIRD contexts, remains limited. This study addresses this gap by investigating the relationships between goals, motiva...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Nature
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04602-8 |
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| author | Wei Zhang Kieran Balloo Anesa Hosein Emma Medland |
| author_facet | Wei Zhang Kieran Balloo Anesa Hosein Emma Medland |
| author_sort | Wei Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Students’ well-being has received increasing international attention. However, research on well-being among higher vocational education (HVE) students, particularly in non-WEIRD contexts, remains limited. This study addresses this gap by investigating the relationships between goals, motivation, and well-being for HVE students in China through the lens of self-determination theory. A survey was administered to 1106 HVE students at a vocational college in China to collect data on their goal content, motivation, and well-being. Quantitative analyses revealed that motivation plays a dual role, acting as both a mediator and a moderator in the relationship between goals and well-being. This dual role is crucial for understanding not only how goals influence well-being but also under what conditions different types of goals promote or hinder well-being. Specifically, intrinsic goals, when paired with autonomous motivation, were found to significantly predict increased well-being. While extrinsic goals combined with controlled motivation also reliably predicted well-being, this relationship should be interpreted cautiously within the specific cultural context of the study. Furthermore, positive relationships between extrinsic goals and well-being, as well as between amotivation and well-being, were observed, contrasting findings from ‘WEIRD’ contexts. This study provides novel insights into how motivation functions as both a moderator and mediator in the goal-well-being relationship within a ‘non-WEIRD,’ specifically Chinese, HVE context. These findings underscore the importance of supporting students in pursuing goals to enhance their well-being. Further research is needed to explore these relationships in diverse cultural settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cbc4509a1253450683dabc85b5bf0fa1 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-cbc4509a1253450683dabc85b5bf0fa12025-08-20T02:19:57ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-03-0112111510.1057/s41599-025-04602-8The dual role of motivation on goals and well-being in higher vocational education students: a self-determination theory perspectiveWei Zhang0Kieran Balloo1Anesa Hosein2Emma Medland3Ningbo University of Finance and EconomicsSurrey Institute of Education, University of SurreySurrey Institute of Education, University of SurreySurrey Institute of Education, University of SurreyAbstract Students’ well-being has received increasing international attention. However, research on well-being among higher vocational education (HVE) students, particularly in non-WEIRD contexts, remains limited. This study addresses this gap by investigating the relationships between goals, motivation, and well-being for HVE students in China through the lens of self-determination theory. A survey was administered to 1106 HVE students at a vocational college in China to collect data on their goal content, motivation, and well-being. Quantitative analyses revealed that motivation plays a dual role, acting as both a mediator and a moderator in the relationship between goals and well-being. This dual role is crucial for understanding not only how goals influence well-being but also under what conditions different types of goals promote or hinder well-being. Specifically, intrinsic goals, when paired with autonomous motivation, were found to significantly predict increased well-being. While extrinsic goals combined with controlled motivation also reliably predicted well-being, this relationship should be interpreted cautiously within the specific cultural context of the study. Furthermore, positive relationships between extrinsic goals and well-being, as well as between amotivation and well-being, were observed, contrasting findings from ‘WEIRD’ contexts. This study provides novel insights into how motivation functions as both a moderator and mediator in the goal-well-being relationship within a ‘non-WEIRD,’ specifically Chinese, HVE context. These findings underscore the importance of supporting students in pursuing goals to enhance their well-being. Further research is needed to explore these relationships in diverse cultural settings.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04602-8 |
| spellingShingle | Wei Zhang Kieran Balloo Anesa Hosein Emma Medland The dual role of motivation on goals and well-being in higher vocational education students: a self-determination theory perspective Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | The dual role of motivation on goals and well-being in higher vocational education students: a self-determination theory perspective |
| title_full | The dual role of motivation on goals and well-being in higher vocational education students: a self-determination theory perspective |
| title_fullStr | The dual role of motivation on goals and well-being in higher vocational education students: a self-determination theory perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | The dual role of motivation on goals and well-being in higher vocational education students: a self-determination theory perspective |
| title_short | The dual role of motivation on goals and well-being in higher vocational education students: a self-determination theory perspective |
| title_sort | dual role of motivation on goals and well being in higher vocational education students a self determination theory perspective |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04602-8 |
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