Abstract
The present study investigated adolescents’ emotional anticipation profiles at the prospect of high school graduation and examined whether these profiles were similar across gender, educational track, and grade. Our results shed light on profiles that were distinct in level and shape: a Positive Anticipatory–Positive Anticipated emotions profile, a Mixed Anticipatory–High Anticipated emotions profile, a Mixed Anticipatory–Low Anticipated emotions profile, a Negative Anticipatory–High Anticipated emotions profile, and a Positive Anticipatory–High Anticipated emotions profile. Contrasting with variable-centered results, differences across gender, educational track, and grades were found to be rather qualitative in nature (i.e., different profile shape and prevalence) than quantitative (i.e., differences in emotional levels). Our findings offer important insights in understanding adolescents’ anticipation of important life and educational transitions.
Résumé
Anticipation émotionnelle de l'obtention du diplôme d'études secondaires: similitude des profils selon le sexe, le parcours scolaire et le niveau scolaire. La présente étude a examiné les profils d'anticipation émotionnelle des adolescents à la perspective de l'obtention du diplôme d'études secondaires et a examiné si ces profils étaient similaires selon le genre, le parcours scolaire et l'année scolaire. Nos résultats ont mis en lumière des profils distincts en niveau et en forme: un profil d'émotions Anticipatoires Positives-Anticipées Positives, un profil d'émotions Anticipatoires Mixtes-Anticipées Hautes, un profil d'émotions Anticipatoires Mixtes-Anticipées Basses, un profil d'émotions Anticipatoires Positives-Anticipées Hautes, et un profil d'émotions Anticipatoires Négatives-Anticipées Elevées. Contrairement aux résultats centrés sur les variables, les différences entre les sexes, les filières scolaires et les notes se sont avérées plutôt de nature qualitative (c'est-à-dire une forme et une prévalence de profil différentes) que quantitative (c'est-à-dire des différences de niveaux émotionnels). Nos résultats offrent des informations importantes pour comprendre l'anticipation des adolescents des transitions importantes de la vie et pendant l'éducation.
Zusammenfassung
Emotionale Vorfreude auf das Abitur: Ähnlichkeit der Profile über Geschlecht, Bildungsweg und Klasse. Die vorliegende Studie untersuchte die emotionalen Erwartungsprofile von Jugendlichen im Hinblick auf das Abitur und untersuchte, ob diese Profile über Geschlecht, Bildungsweg und Klassenstufe hinweg ähnlich waren. Unsere Ergebnisse werfen ein Licht auf Profile, die sich in Niveau und Form unterscheiden: ein positives antizipatorisches Profil mit positiven antizipierten Emotionen, ein gemischtes antizipatorisches Profil mit hohen antizipierten Emotionen, ein gemischtes Profil mit antizipatorischen Emotionen und niedrigen antizipierten Emotionen, ein negatives antizipatorisches Profil mit hohen antizipierten Emotionen, und ein positives antizipatorisches Profil mit hohen antizipierten Emotionen. Im Gegensatz zu variablenzentrierten Ergebnissen waren die Unterschiede zwischen Geschlecht, Bildungsweg und Noten eher qualitativer Natur (d. h. unterschiedliche Profilform und Prävalenz) als quantitativer Natur (d. h. Unterschiede in der emotionalen Ebene). Unsere Ergebnisse bieten wichtige Einblicke in das Verständnis der Heranwachsenden von wichtigen Lebens- und Bildungsübergängen.
Resumen
Anticipación emocional de la graduación de la escuela secundaria: similitud de los perfiles según el género, la trayectoria educativa y el grado. El presente estudio investi-gó los perfiles de anticipación emocional de los adolescentes ante la posibilidad de graduarse de la escuela secundaria y examinó si estos perfiles eran similares en función del género, la tra-yectoria educativa y el grado. Nuestros resultados arrojan luz sobre perfiles que eran distintos en nivel y forma: un perfil de emociones anticipatorias positivas-positivas anticipadas, un perfil de emociones mixtas anticipatorias-altas anticipadas, un perfil mixto de emociones anticipato-rias-bajas anticipadas, un perfil de emociones negativas anticipatorias-altas anticipadas, y un perfil de emociones Positivo Anticipatorio-Alto Anticipado. En contraste con los resultados centrados en variables, se encontró que las diferencias entre género, trayectoria educativa y grados eran más bien de naturaleza cualitativa (es decir, diferente forma de perfil y prevalen-cia) que cuantitativa (es decir, diferencias en los niveles emocionales). Nuestros hallazgos ofrecen información importante para comprender la anticipación de los adolescentes sobre transiciones vitales y educativas importantes.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Data and study materials are available at the following URL: https://osf.io/tas6r.
References
Alfeld-Liro, C., & Sigelman, C. K. (1998). Sex differences in self-concept and symptoms of depression during the transition to college. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 27(2), 219–244. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021667813858
Anderson, M. L., Goodman, J., & Schlossberg, N. K. (2012). Counseling adults in transition: Linking Schlossberg’s theory with practice in a diverse world. Springer.
Archer, J. (2004). Sex differences in aggression in real-world settings: A meta-analytic review. Review of General Psychology, 8(4), 291–322. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.8.4.291
Aspinwall, L. G., Sechrist, G. B., & Jones, P. R. (2005). Expect the best and prepare for the worst: Anticipatory coping and preparations for Y2K. Motivation and Emotion, 29(4), 357–388. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-006-9008-y
Aspinwall, L. G., & Taylor, S. E. (1997). A stitch in time: Self-regulation and proactive coping. Psychological Bulletin, 121(3), 417–436. https://doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.121.3.417
Barsics, C., Van der Linden, M., & D’Argembeau, A. (2016). Frequency, characteristics, and perceived functions of emotional future thinking in daily life. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 69(2), 217–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2015.1051560
Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., DeWall, C. N., & Zhang, L. (2007). How emotion shapes behavior: Feedback, anticipation, and reflection, rather than direct causation. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11(2), 167–203. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868307301033
Baumgartner, H., Pieters, R., & Bagozzi, R. P. (2008). Future-oriented emotions: Conceptualization and behavioral effects. European Journal of Social Psychology, 38(4), 685–696. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.467
Berrios, R., Totterdell, P., & Kellett, S. (2018). When feeling mixed can be meaningful: The relation between mixed emotions and eudaimonic well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19(3), 841–861. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9849-y
Braniecka, A., Trzebińska, E., Dowgiert, A., & Wytykowska, A. (2014). Mixed emotions and coping: The benefits of secondary emotions. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103940
Brissette, I., Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (2002). The role of optimism in social network development, coping, and psychological adjustment during a life transition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(1), 102–111. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.1.102
Brody, L. R., Hall, J. A., & Stokes, L. R. (2016). Gender and emotion: Theory, findings, and context. In L. Feldman Barrett, M. Lewis, & J. M. Haviland-Jones (Eds.), Handbook of emotions (pp. 369–392). The Guilford Press.
Chaplin, T. M., & Aldao, A. (2013). Gender differences in emotion expression in children: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 139(4), 735–765. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030737
Christie, H. (2009). Emotional journeys: Young people and transitions to university. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 30(2), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425690802700123
Collins, L. M., & Lanza, S. T. (2010). Latent class and latent transition analysis with applications in the social, behavioral, and health sciences. Wiley.
Conley, C. S., Kirsch, A. C., Dickson, D. A., & Bryant, F. B. (2014). Negotiating the transition to college: Developmental trajectories and gender differences in psychological functioning, cognitive–affective strategies, and social well-being. Emerging Adulthood, 2(3), 195–210. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696814521808
Dejonckheere, E., Mestdagh, M., Verdonck, S., Lafit, G., Ceulemans, E., Bastian, B., & Kalokerinos, E. K. (2021). The relation between positive and negative affect becomes more negative in response to personally relevant events. Emotion, 21(2), 326–336. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000697
Else-Quest, N. M., Higgins, A., Allison, C., & Morton, L. C. (2012). Gender differences in self-conscious emotional experience: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 138(5), 947–981. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027930
Ersner-Hershfield, H., Mikels, J. A., Sullivan, S. J., & Carstensen, L. L. (2008). Poignancy: Mixed emotional experience in the face of meaningful endings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94(1), 158–167. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.94.1.158
Fernando, J. W., Kashima, Y., & Laham, S. M. (2014). Multiple emotions: A person-centered approach to the relationship between intergroup emotion and action orientation. Emotion, 14(4), 722–732. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036103
Ganotice, F. A., Datu, J. A. D., & King, R. B. (2016). Which emotional profiles exhibit the best learning outcomes? A person-centered analysis of students’ academic emotions. School Psychology International, 37(5), 498–518. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034316660147
Ge, X., Lorenz, F. O., Conger, R. D., Elder, G. H., & Simons, R. L. (1994). Trajectories of stressful life events and depressive symptoms during adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 30(4), 467–483. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.30.4.467
Gerdes, H., & Mallinckrodt, B. (1994). Emotional, social, and academic adjustment of college students: A longitudinal study of retention. Journal of Counseling and Development, 72(3), 281–288. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1994.tb00935.x
Hartung, P. J., Porfeli, E. J., & Vondracek, F. W. (2005). Child vocational development: A review and reconsideration. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66(3), 385–419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2004.05.006
Hodzic, S., Scharfen, J., Ripoll, P., Holling, H., & Zenasni, F. (2018). How efficient are emotional intelligence trainings: A meta-analysis. Emotion Review, 10(2), 138–148. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073917708613
Hyde, J. S. (2005). The gender similarities hypothesis. American Psychologist, 60(6), 581–592. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.60.6.581
Jose, P. E., & Ratcliffe, V. (2004). Stressor frequency and perceived intensity as predictors of internalizing symptoms: Gender and age differences in adolescence. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 33(3), 145–154.
Kerr, S., Johnson, V. K., Gans, S. E., & Krumrine, J. (2004). Predicting adjustment during the transition to college: Alexithymia, perceived stress, and psychological symptoms. Journal of College Student Development, 45(6), 593–611. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2004.0068
Klaczynski, P. A., & Reese, H. W. (1991). Educational trajectory and “action orientation”: Grade and track differences. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 20(4), 441–462. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537185
Larose, S., Duchesne, S., Litalien, D., Denault, A. S., & Boivin, M. (2019). Adjustment trajectories during the college transition: Types, personal and family antecedents, and academic outcomes. Research in Higher Education, 60(5), 684–710. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-018-9538-7
Larsen, J. T., Coles, N. A., & Jordan, D. K. (2017). Varieties of mixed emotional experience. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 15, 72–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.05.021
Larsen, J. T., & McGraw, A. P. (2014). The case for mixed emotions. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 8(6), 263–274. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12108
Larsen, J. T., McGraw, A. P., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2001). Can people feel happy and sad at the same time? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(4), 684–696. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.81.4.684
Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. Oxford University Press.
Levinson, D. J. (1986). A conception of adult development. American Psychologist, 41(1), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.41.1.3
Louis, M. R. (1980). Career transitions: Varieties and commonalities. Academy of Management Review, 5(3), 329–340. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1980.4288836
Lowe, K., & Dotterer, A. M. (2018). Parental involvement during the college transition: A review and suggestion for its conceptual definition. Adolescent Research Review, 3(1), 29–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-017-0058-z
Macrae, C. N., & Bodenhausen, G. V. (2000). Social cognition: Thinking categorically about others. Annual Review of Psychology, 51, 93–120. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.51.1.93
Malmberg, L. E., & Trempała, J. (1997). Anticipated transition to adulthood: The effect of educational track, gender, and self-evaluation on Finnish and Polish adolescents’ future orientation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 26(5), 517–537. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024577805149
Matud, M. P. (2004). Gender differences in stress and coping styles. Personality and Individual Differences, 37(7), 1401–1415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2004.01.010
McDonough, P., & Walters, V. (2001). Gender and health: Reassessing patterns and explanations. Social Science and Medicine, 52(4), 547–559. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00159-3
Miloyan, B., & Suddendorf, T. (2015). Feelings of the future. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 19(4), 196–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2015.01.008
Moors, A. (2013). On the causal role of appraisal in emotion. Emotion Review, 5(2), 132–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073912463601
Morin, A. J. S., McLarnon, M. J. W., & Litalien, D. (2020). Mixture modeling for Organizational Behavior Research. In Y. Griep, S. D. Hansen, T. Vantilborgh & J. Hofmans (Eds.), Handbook of dynamic organizational behavior. Edward Elgar.
Morin, A. J. S., Meyer, J. P., Creusier, J., & Biétry, F. (2016). Multiple-group analysis of similarity in latent profile solutions. Organizational Research Methods, 19(2), 231–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428115621148
Motlova, V., & Honsova, P. (2021). The effects of a 13-week career development programme on career-adapting thoughts and behaviours. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-020-09454-z
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Girgus, J. S. (1994). The emergence of gender differences in depression during adolescence. Psychological Bulletin, 115(3), 424–443. https://doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.115.3.424
Nurmi, J. E. (1991). How do adolescents see their future? A review of the development of future orientation and planning. Developmental Review, 11(1), 1–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-2297(91)90002-6
Nylund, K. L., Asparouhov, T., & Muthén, B. O. (2007). Deciding on the number of classes in latent class analysis and growth mixture modeling: A Monte Carlo simulation study. Structural Equation Modeling, 14(4), 535–569. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705510701575396
Olivera-Aguilar, M., & Rikoon, S. H. (2018). Assessing measurement invariance in multiple-group latent profile analysis. Structural Equation Modeling, 25(3), 439–452. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2017.1408015
Orth, U., Robins, R. W., & Soto, C. J. (2010). Tracking the trajectory of shame, guilt, and pride across the life span. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99(6), 1061–1071. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021342
Ortony, A., Clore, G. L., & Collins, A. (1988). The cognitive structure of emotions. Cambridge University Press.
Parker, J. D. A., Summerfeldt, L. J., Hogan, M. J., & Majeski, S. A. (2004). Emotional intelligence and academic success: Examining the transition from high school to university. Personality and Individual Differences, 36(1), 163–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(03)00076-X
Parmentier, M. (2021). Emotional anticipation of future vocational transitions: A person-centered approach [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. UCLouvain.
Parmentier, M., Dangoisse, F., Zacher, H., Pirsoul, T., & Nils, F. (2021a). Anticipatory emotions at the prospect of the transition to higher education: A latent transition analysis. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103543
Parmentier, M., Pirsoul, T., & Nils, F. (2021b). Career adaptability profiles and their relations with emotional and decision-making correlates among belgian undergraduate students. Journal of Career Development. https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453211005553
Pomerantz, E. M., Altermatt, E. R., & Saxon, J. L. (2002). Making the grade but feeling distressed: Gender differences in academic performance and internal distress. Journal of Educational Psychology, 94(2), 396–404. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.94.2.396
Porfeli, E. J., & Lee, B. (2012). Career development during childhood and adolescence. New Directions for Youth Development, 2012(134), 11–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/yd.20011
Postareff, L., Mattsson, M., Lindblom-Ylänne, S., & Hailikari, T. (2017). The complex relationship between emotions, approaches to learning, study success and study progress during the transition to university. Higher Education, 73(3), 441–457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-016-0096-7
Robinson, K. A., Beymer, P. N., Ranellucci, J., & Schmidt, J. A. (2020). Momentary emotion profiles in high school science and their relations to control, value, achievement, and science career intentions. Motivation Science, 6(4), 401–412. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000174
Robinson, M. D., & Clore, G. L. (2001). Simulation, scenarios, and emotional appraisal: Testing the convergence of real and imagined reactions to emotional stimuli. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(11), 1520–1532. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672012711012
Roxburgh, S. (1996). Gender differences in work and well-being: Effects of exposure and vulnerability author(s): Susan Roxburgh Source: Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol 37, No. 3 (Sep., 1996), pp. 265–277 Published by: American Sociological Association. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 37(September), 265–277.
Salmela-Aro, K., Kiuru, N., & Nurmi, J. E. (2008). The role of educational track in adolescents’ school burnout: A longitudinal study. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 78(4), 663–689. https://doi.org/10.1348/000709908X281628
Scherer, K. R. (2001). Appraisal considered as a process of multilevel sequential checking. In K. R. Scherer, A. Schorr, & T. Johnstone (Eds.), Appraisals processes in emotion: Theory, method, research (pp. 92–120). Oxford University Press.
Shuman, V., Sander, D., & Scherer, K. R. (2013). Levels of valence. Frontiers in Psychology, 4(May), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00261
Spurk, D., Hirschi, A., Wang, M., Valero, D., & Kauffeld, S. (2020). Latent profile analysis: A review and “how to” guide of its application within vocational behavior research. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 120, 103445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103445
Srivastava, S., Tamir, M., McGonigal, K. M., John, O. P., & Gross, J. J. (2009). The social costs of emotional suppression: A prospective study of the transition to college. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96(4), 883–897. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014755
Tein, J. Y., Coxe, S., & Cham, H. (2013). Statistical power to detect the correct number of classes in latent profile analysis. Structural Equation Modeling, 20(4), 640–657. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2013.824781
Trampe, D., Quoidbach, J., & Taquet, M. (2015). Emotions in everyday life. PLoS ONE, 10(12), e0145450. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0145450
Trautwein, C., & Bosse, E. (2017). The first year in higher education—Critical requirements from the student perspective. Higher Education, 73(3), 371–387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-016-0098-5
Van Boven, L., & Ashworth, L. (2007). Looking forward, looking back: Anticipation is more evocative than retrospection. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 136(2), 289–300. https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.136.2.289
Vignoli, E., Nils, F., Parmentier, M., Mallet, P., & Rimé, B. (2020). The emotions aroused by a vocational transition in adolescents: Why, when and how are they socially shared with significant others? International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 20(3), 567–589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-019-09417-z
Watson, D., & Stanton, K. (2017). Emotion blends and mixed emotions in the hierarchical structure of affect. Emotion Review, 9(2), 99–104. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073916639659
Wilson, T. D., & Gilbert, D. T. (2003). Affective forecasting. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 35, pp. 345–411). Academic.
Wood, W., & Eagly, A. H. (2002). A cross-cultural analysis of the behavior of women and men: Implications for the origins of sex differences. Psychological Bulletin, 128(5), 699–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.128.5.699
Funding
This work was supported by the “Service Public Wallon de l’Emploi et de la Formation” under grant to the third author.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
MP, TP, PB, and FN contributed to conceptualization; MP, TP, PB, and FN contributed to methodology; PB and FN performed data curation; MP performed formal analysis and investigation; MP and TP contributed to writing and preparation of the original draft; MP, TP, PB and FN contributed to writing, reviewing, and editing of the manuscript; FN contributed to funding acquisition; FN performed supervision.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Informed consent
All participants gave their informed consent to participate in the present study, were assured of the anonymity and confidentiality of their data, and informed about their freedom to withdraw their participation at any time without justification.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Parmentier, M., Pirsoul, T., Bouchat, P. et al. Emotional anticipation of high school graduation: Similarity of profiles across gender, educational track, and grade. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 23, 531–554 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-022-09528-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-022-09528-0