Trajectories of life satisfaction and the financial situation in the transition to adulthood

Authors

  • Mette Ranta Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland
  • Angela Chow University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
  • Katariina Salmela-Aro Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v4i1.216

Keywords:

Young Adulthood, Life Satisfaction, Agency, Developmental Trajectories, Longitudinal Study, Financial Situation, Person-Oriented Approach, Growth Mixture Modelling

Abstract

The aims of this study were (1) to investigate  young adults’ life satisfaction changes during the transition to adulthood, (2) to identify possible life satisfaction developmental trajectories during the transition, and (3) to examine how individuals’ agency and personal financial situations are related to the identified life satisfaction trajectories in the contexts of life-span and life course theories of development. The present study is part of the longitudinal Finnish Educational Transitions (FinEdu) study, in which a total of 372 (278 female and 94 male) young adults filled in questionnaires at four measurement points, that is, twice before (at 18 and 19 years of age) and twice after (at 20 and 22 years of age) the transition from upper secondary high school to tertiary education and/or employment. Growth Mixture Modelling revealed five trajectories of life satisfaction: low-stable (8%), moderate-stable (41%), high-stable (27%), moderate-increasing (17%), and high-decreasing (7%). The vast majority (76%) of young adults had a stable life satisfaction trajectory throughout the transition. High levels of achievement approach strategies at age 19 were somewhat related to high-decreasing and high-stable life satisfaction trajectories. In turn, those using achievement avoidance strategies at age 19 were more likely to have low-stable or moderately-increasing life satisfaction trajectories. Positive life satisfaction trajectories were related to being in a positive financial situation at age 22. The two largest trajectories indicated better objective and subjective financial situations than did the other trajectories.

Author Biographies

Mette Ranta, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland

Doctoral Student, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland Research Assistant, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland

Angela Chow, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Katariina Salmela-Aro, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

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Published

2013-01-17

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2013): Longitudinal and Life Course Studies

Section

Papers

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