A Comparative Study of the Role of Culture in Ordering Priorities of Goals and Aspirations: The Case of Iranian and American University Students

The study of effects of culture on a purposeful life as an important factor of psychological health and an influential factor on setting goals and ordering their priorities is a challenging and exciting topic for researchers. The aim of the present research was to study the role of culture in how Iranian and American university students ordered priorities of their goals and aspirations. A descriptive method was used in the design and implementation of this study.. The sample consisted of 216 Iranian students and 164 American students. All students completed the Goals and Aspirations Questionnaire. In addition to descriptive statistics indicators for data analysis (mean and standard deviation), methods of inferential statistics (analysis of multivariate variance, MANOVA) were used. Analysis of the findings indicated that the top three priorities for the American students as a whole were dependence, self-acceptance, and health, respectively, and for Iranian students were self-acceptance, health, and financial success, respectively. Comparing sexes, the top three priorities for American female students were dependence, self-acceptance, and helping the society and for Iranian female students were self-acceptance, health, and helping the society. Also, the top three priorities of American male students were dependence, self-acceptance and health while for Iranian male students were self-acceptance, financial success and health. Results of MANOVA test showed that there was a significant different between Iranian and American students in terms of subgoals, which were categorized as spirituality, health, dependence, conformity, popularity, body image and financial success.