The Association Between Career Anxiety and Life Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of a Fixed Mindset

Abstract

Research suggests that teacher students are at particular risk for experiencing career anxiety compared to other professions (Daniels et al., 2006). The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of career anxiety in students in their final years of studies and the moderating role of a fixed mindset in the relationship between career anxiety and life satisfaction. The study examined 192 students in their final years of the Preschool Education and Primary Teacher Education study programs. Besides basic demographic information, the mindset questionnaire, the career anxiety scale, the SWLS life satisfaction questionnaire, and the STAI-X2 anxiety scale were used to obtain the data. The findings showed that the majority of students reported being satisfied with their life and that higher life satisfaction was positively connected with less trait anxiety and career anxiety, as well as a less fixed mindset. Furthermore, the results showed that a fixed mindset was an important moderator of the relationship between career anxiety and life satisfaction in future preschool and primary education teachers. Based on the obtained results, their implications were summarised for teacher education programs and counselling at university career centres.