Adolescents, often preoccupied with questions like “Where is my life going?” and “Who do I want to be?” are essentially future-thinkers, dedicating considerable time to pondering their life goals.
A recent study conducted by the University of Houston highlights how individuals transition from adolescence to young adulthood, experiencing shifts in the significance they attribute to various life goals. However, one consistent finding emerges: the presence of high prestige and education goals, along with their positive evolution, significantly influences one’s path to success.
“Adolescents who endorsed higher levels of prestige and education goals tended to have higher educational attainment, income, occupational creativity, occupational prestige, and job complexity after 12 years,” the researchers explain.
Life outcomes
The researchers observed that goals undergo fluctuations over time—certain aspirations from youth may diminish, while others related to family (such as maintaining close ties with relatives), relationships (including fostering meaningful friendships or romantic partnerships), and community engagement (such as active involvement in one’s neighborhood or assisting others) remain steadfast. Interestingly, these enduring goals may grow even more significant as individuals age.
“Life goals are expected to change over time, and these changes are expected to have consequences for future life outcomes, including occupational outcomes,” the authors explain. “By understanding how changes in life goals relate to educational and occupational outcomes (above and beyond adolescent levels), we show how changes within individuals may also predict desired educational and occupational attainment.”
The study investigated the progression of life goals as individuals aged, as well as how the goals set during adolescence and their evolution into young adulthood correlated with educational achievements and career outcomes. Utilizing two nationally representative samples of Icelandic youth, the research tracked their development longitudinally over a span of 12 years, spanning from late adolescence into young adulthood.
What moves us
“For educational attainment, the strongest effects were found for education goals. Both initial levels and slopes of education goals were positively associated with educational attainment in both samples,” the authors explain. “This indicates that adolescents with higher education goals, and those who showed a more positive change pattern in education goals, had higher educational attainment in young adulthood.”
Among the various types of goals studied, education and prestige goals consistently emerged as the most reliable predictors of future income. Additionally, alterations in these goals over time were found to be the most consistent indicators of subsequent occupational prestige and complexity.
“Our work highlights the importance of better understanding sources of goal development in adolescence and young adulthood. Overall, our focus on life goal development, educational attainment and occupational outcomes informs theoretical and practical understanding about the importance of life goals for real-world outcomes,” the authors conclude.
