Emotional anticipation of the school‐to‐work transition: A multigroup latent profile analysis

Abstract

This study extends the investigation of future-oriented emotions by investigating students' emotional anticipation profiles at the prospect of the school-to-work transition. Among 2882 students, latent profile analysis revealed the emergence of four qualitative and quantitative distinct profiles. We also examined the profile similarity across gender, educational type, and the remaining time before the transition. Men and women exhibited both qualitative (i.e., profile shape and prevalence) and quantitative (i.e., levels of profile indicators) differences. However, we found no quantitative differences with regard to the educational type and the remaining time before the transition. To the best of our knowledge, this research is the first to document the complex interaction between anticipatory and anticipated emotions and the suitability of a person-centered approach for investigating emotional experience, especially among men and women. It provides essential practical information for developing a preventive strategy regarding the emotional anticipation of the school-to-work transition.

Emotional Anticipation at the Prospect of Finding a Job

“…Our findings also complement the literature on future-oriented emotions, as little research has jointly examined both anticipatory and anticipated emotions simultaneously. Overall, our results echo and replicate previous findings regarding profiles of future-oriented emotions at the prospect of other important educational and career transitions such as the transition to university or the school-to-work transition (Parmentier et al, 2022a, 2022b). These findings bring important implications for the relationship between emotions and job search outcomes (Côté et al, 2006; Crossley & Stanton, 2005; da Motta Veiga & Turban, 2014; Kim & Lee, 2022).…”

“…Anticipatory and anticipated emotions were measured using an adapted measure of Baumgartner et al (2008) that has already been successfully adapted in other contexts and career transitions (Parmentier et al, 2022a(Parmentier et al, , 2022b.…”

“…In a broader population, Fernando et al (2014) supported the co-occurrence of positive and negative emotions by also revealing the existence of five different profiles across two studies. Finally, several studies have investigated profiles of future-oriented emotions at the prospect of educational and career transitions (Parmentier et al, 2021(Parmentier et al, , 2022bZampetakis et al, 2016). For example, Zampetakis et al (2016) found four profiles of anticipated emotions related to venture creation among students, bringing evidence for the co-occurrence of future-oriented emotions.…”

Emotional intelligence and career-related outcomes: A meta-analysis

“…As subgroups of the population may experience and anticipate the labour market and career development differently (Kanfer et al, 2001), we decided to examine whether the correlation effect sizes may be affected by whether participants were students or workers. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that the emotions that individuals anticipate and experience at the prospect of future transitions play an important role in how they visualize their transition and how to cope with it (Parmentier et al, 2021;Parmentier, Pirsoul, Bouchat, et al, 2022). According to the career stage perspective of Super (1957), we also think that workers have a higher level of experience in the labour market when compared to students and, in the end, are more confident in coping with their transition and career development.…”

Emotional Intelligence Profiles and Job Search Correlates in the Context of the School-to-Work Transition

“…The preparation of leaving university life for a full-time job involves many challenges, such as developing clear career goals, making important career decisions, and anticipating and preparing for entry into the world of work (Akkermans et al, 2021). This period may lead to the experience of various emotions that could influence career choices and career behaviors (Parmentier et al, 2022). In this sense, emotional intelligence has received increasing attention as an important self-regulatory resource to respond adaptively to career events such as the school-to-work transition (Coetzee & Beukes, 2010).…”