Economic indicators predict changes in college student optimism for life events

Abstract

This investigation explored the extent to which an economic recession predicted changes in college students' optimism about the length and quality of their futures. In a cross-sectional design, college students in the United States rated their likelihood of divorcing, being unhappy in their career, and living past age 60, at time points before, during, and in the aftermath of an economic recession (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010). Economic indicators, particularly gas prices, predicted decreased optimism as the indicators worsened. After the recession, however, optimism rebounded. The findings reveal that people's expectations for their personal futures are generally sensitive to the state of the national economy.Expectations about what will happen in the future guide decisions about how to behave in the present. People decide, for instance, whether it is worthwhile to eat healthy foods, take vaccinations, save money, or ask someone on a date based on what they believe is likely to happen if they pursue related actions. How and when large-scale national changes, such as an economic recession, predict changes in people's expectations for the future has not been assessed, but recent events provide an opportunity to examine this possibility and that was the purpose of this investigation.

Unfriendly customer behaviors and employees’ psychological capital: the role of health symptoms and positive humor events

“…These affective events will influence diverse emotional reactions and consequent work-related attitudes and behaviors at work. For instance, some studies have shown that positive affective events are positively related with work engagement (Junça-Silva, Caetano, & Rueff-Lopes, 2017), job satisfaction (e.g., Ohly, & Smith, 2015), optimism (e.g., Lench, & Bench, 2014), among others. On the other hand, negative affective events have also been linked to decreased levels of work engagement (e.g., Junça-Silva, et al, 2017), physiological heath (Rueff-Lopes et al, 2017, optimism and relisience (e.g., Li, et al, 2014).…”

Financial Stress, Student’s Positivity and their Academic Achievement: Mediating Role of Family Conflicts

“…These findings are in line with several previous studies. Lench and Bench (2014) stated that college students exhibit less positivity towards future life events like professional career marriage, and after decline they exhibit an increasing future positivity. The elevated pressure triggered by poor financial situations and decreased positivity towards future exhibits the effect of financial stress on college students.…”