Distinguishing Autonomous and Directive Forms of Goal Support: Their Effects on Goal Progress,Relationship Quality,and Subjective Well-Being

Three studies examined the relations of autonomy support and directive support to goal progress over 3 months. autonomy support was defined in terms of empathic perspective-taking,whereas directive support was defined in terms of the provision of positive guidance. results from study 1 revealed that autonomy support between romantic partners was significantly positively related to goal progress over 3 months,and that the beneficial effect of autonomy support was mediated by enhanced autonomous goal motivation. study 2 involved female friend dyads and extended the goal progress results to include both self-reports and reports by peers. study 3 showed that autonomy support similarly promoted progress at vicarious goals. across three studies,autonomy support was also significantly associated with improved relationship quality and subjective well-being. directive support was marginally associated with better goal progress across the three studies and unrelated to relationship quality or well-being. © 2012 by the society for personality and social psychology,inc.