Fear of COVID-19 and Career Distress: Mediating Role of Visions About the Future

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has effected many aspects of people's lives including health, economy, and social life. Another area of life that is thought to be effected by the COVID-19 pandemic but has not yet been adequately studied is the career of individuals. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of visions about the future (hope, optimism, pessimism) in the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and career distress. The participants of the research consist of 331 individuals. Participants' ages range from 18-29 (21.43, SD = 1.86). The data collected within the scope of the purpose of the research were analyzed with the structural equation modeling method. According to the results obtained from the analysis, it was found that the fear of COVID-19 negatively effects visions about the future. However, visions about the future mediates the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and career distress. Visions about the future have been shown to have a fully mediating role in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and career distress. The findings were discussed in light of the literature.

Keywords

• Fear of COVID-19
• Hope
• Optimism
• Pessimism
• Career Distress

Fear of COVID-19 and Career Distress: Mediating Role of Visions About the Future

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of people's lives including health, economy, and social life. Another area of life that is thought to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but has not yet been adequately studied is the career of individuals. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of visions about the future (hope, optimism, pessimism) in the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and career distress. The participants of the research consist of 331 individuals. Participants' ages range from 18-29 (21.43, SD = 1.86). As a result of the correlation analysis, visions about the future were negatively correlated with the fear of COVID-19 and career distress. On the other hand, the fear of COVID-19 was positively correlated with career distress. The result of the analysis for the research model indicated that there was a full mediating role of visions about the future in the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and career distress. The findings were discussed in the light of the literature.

Keywords

• Fear of COVID-19
• hope
• optimism
• pessimism
• career distress

References

1. Abdelrahman, M. (2020). Personality traits, risk perception, and protective behaviors of Arab residents of Qatar during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469- 020-00352-7.
2. Ahorsu, D.K., Lin, C-Y., Imani, V., Saffari, M., Griffiths, M. D., & Pakpour, A. H. (2020). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale: Development and initial validation. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00270-8.
3. Akca, M. S., Korkmaz, O., & Alkal, A. (2018). Turkish form of the Visions About Future Scale: Validity and reliability studies. The Journal of Career Counseling, 1(1), 1-21.
4. Akkermans, J., Richardson, J., & Kraimer, M. (2020). The Covid-19 crisis as a career shock: Implications for careers and vocational behavior. Journal of Vocational Behavior. https://doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103434.
5. Arslan, G., Yıldırım, M., Tanhan, A., Buluş, M., & Allen, K. A. (2020). Coronavirus stress, optimism-pessimism, psychological inflexibility, and psychological health: Psychometric properties of the coronavirus stress measure. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00337-6.
6. Baert, S., Lippens, L., Moens, E., Sterkens, P., & Weytjens, J. (2020). How do we think the COVID-19 crisis will affect our careers (if any remain)? Technical Report 520 Global Labor Organization (GLO). URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/215884.
7. Bakioğlu, F., Korkmaz, O., & Ercan, H. (2020). Fear of COVID-19 and positivity: Mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty, depression, anxiety, and stress. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00331-y.
8. Banerjee D. (2020). The COVID-19 outbreak: Crucial role the psychiatrists can play. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 50, 102014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102014.

9. Barclay, S. R., & Stoltz, K. B. (2016). The Life Design Group: A case study vignette in group career construction counseling. Journal of Student Affairs Research & Practice, 53(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/19496591.2016.1087859.
10. Benton, S. A., Robertson, J. M., Tseng, W. C., Newton, F. B., & Benton, S. L. (2003). Changes in counseling center client problems across 13 years. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34, 66–72. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.34.1.66.
11. Bhuiyan, A. I., Sakib, N., Pakpour, A. H., Griffiths, M. D., & Mamun, M. A. (2020). COVID-19-related suicides in Bangladesh due to lockdown and economic factors: Case study evidence. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00307-y.
12. Blustein, D. L. (2006). The psychology of working: A new perspective for career development, counseling, and public policy. New York, NY: Routledge.
13. Blustein, D. L. (2013). The psychology of working: A new perspective for a new era. In D. L. Blustein (Ed.), Oxford handbooks online. http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199758791.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199758791-e-001.
14. Blustein, D. L., Duffy, R., Ferreira, J. A., Cohen-Scali, V., Cinamon, R. G., & Allan, B. A. (2020). Unemployment in the time of COVID-19: A research agenda. Journal of Vocational Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103436.
15. Blustein, D. L., & Guarino, P. A. (2020). Work and unemployment in the time of COVID-9: The existential experience of loss and fear. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Special Issue: Covid-19, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022167820934229.
16. Bolukbasi, A., & Kirdok, O. (2019). The mediating role of future orientation in the relationship between career adaptability and life satisfaction in high school students. Education & Science, 44(200), 77-91. http://dx.doi.org/10.15390/EB.2019.8090.
17. Carver C. S., Scheier M. F., & Segerstrom S. C. (2010). Optimism. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 879-889.
18. Celik, M. (2020). Dördü bir arada: Kariyer uyumunun yordayıcıları olarak iyimserlik, umut, bölüm uygunluğu ve istihdam edilebilirlik. Academia Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi, 5(2), 104-106.
19. Creed P.A., & Blume K. (2013) Compromise, well-being, and action behaviors in young adults in career transition. Journal of CareerAssessment, 21 (1), 3–19.
20. Creed, P. A., & Gagliardi, R. E. (2015). Career compromise, career distress, and perceptions of employability: The moderating roles of social capital and core self-evaluations. Journal of Career Assessment, 23, 20–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072714523082.
21. Creed, P. A., & Hennessy, D. A. (2016). Evaluation of a goal orientation model of vocational identity. The Career Development Quarterly, 64, 345–359. https://doi.org/10.1002/cdq.12070.
22. Creed, P. A., & Hood, M. (2013). Disengaging from unattainable career goals and reengaging in more achievable ones. Journal of Career Development, 41, 24–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/ 0894845312471195.
23. Creed, P. A., Hood, M., Praskova, A., & Makransky, G. (2016). The Career Distress Scale: Using rasch measurement theory to evaluate a brief measure of career distress. Journal of Career Assessment, 24, 732–746. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072715616126.
24. Dieringer, D. D., Lenz, J. G., Hayden, S. C. W., & Peterson, G. W. (2017). The relation of negative career thoughts to depression and hopelessness. The Career Development Quarterly, 65, 159-172. https://doi.org/10.1002/cdq.12089.
25. Duffy, R. D., Blustein, D. L., Diemer, M. A., & Autin, K. L. (2016). The psychology of Working Theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(2), 127–148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cou0000140.
26. Eryılmaz, A., & Siraz, M. (2020). COVİD-19 bağlamında kötümserliği aktive eden olaylarla başa çıkma ve ergen öznel iyi oluşu ile ilişkisinin incelenmesi. İstanbul Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 19(37), 292-303.
27. Fitzpatrick, K. M., Harris, C., & Drawve, G. (2020). Living in the midst of fear: Depressive symptomatology among US adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Depression and Anxiety. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.23080.
28. Fouad, N. A., Guillen, A., Harris-Hodge, E., Henry, C., Novakovic, A., Terry, S., & Kantamneni, N. (2006). Need, awareness, and use of career services for college students. Journal of Career Assessment, 14, 407–420. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072706288928.
29. Fuqua, D. R., & Hartman, B. W. (1983). Differential diagnosis and treatment of career indecision. Personnel & Guidance Journal, 62, 27–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2164-4918.1983.tb00112.x.
30. Gati, I., Gadassi, R., Saka, N., Hadadi, Y., Ansenberg, N., Friedmann, R., & Asulin-Peretz, L. (2011). Emotional and personality-related aspects of career decision-making difficulties: Facets of career indecisiveness. Journal of Career Assessment, 19, 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072710382525.
31. Ginevra, M., C., Sgaramella, T., M., Ferrari, L., Nota, L., Santilli, S., & Soresi, S. (2017). Visions About Future: A new scale assessing optimism, pessimism, and hope in adolescents. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 17(2), 187-210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-016-9324-z.
32. Goleman, D. (2000). Duygusal zekâ neden iq’dan daha önemlidir? İstanbul: Varlık Yayınları.
33. Guan, Y., Deng, H., & Zhou, X. (2020). Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on career development: Insights from cultural psychology. Journal of Vocational Behavior. Advance online publication. https://doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103438.
34. Hacımusalar, Y., Civan Kahve, A., Yaşar, A. B. & Aydın, M. S. (2020). Anxiety and hopelessness levels in COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative study of healthcare professionals and other community sample in Turkey. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 129, 181-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.07.024.
35. Hanks, J. (2018). Fear and career decision-making difficulties: Guiding individuals with career indecisiveness. All Student Publications. Retrieved 5 August 2020from:https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/studentpub/244.
36. Hefferon, K., & Boniwell, I. (2014). Pozitif psikoloji: Kuram, araştırma ve uygulamalar. Ankara: Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.
37. Hinkelman, J. M., & Luzzo, D. A. (2007). Mental health and career development of college students. Journal of Counseling & Development, 85, 143–147. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2007. tb00456.x.
38. Hirsch, J.K., Nsamenang, S.A., Chang, E.C., & Kaslow, N.J. (2014). Spiritual wellbeing and depressive symptoms in female African American suicide attempters: Mediating effects of optimism and pessimism. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 6(4), 276-283.
39. International Labor Organization. (2020a). How will COVID-19 affect the world of work? https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/coronavirus/lang–en/index.htm.
40. International Labor Organization (2020b). World employment and social outlook – Trends, 2020. https://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/weso/2020/lang–en/index.htm.
41. Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling. New York: Guilford Pubications, Inc.
42. Korkmaz, O., & Cenkseven Onder, F. (2019). The Relation Between Life Goals and Career Adapt-Abilities: An Investigation of the Mediating Role of Hope. Education & Science, 44(200), 59–76.
43. Mahasnehm A., Al-Zoubi Z., & Batayeneh, O. (2013). The relationship between optimism pessimism and personality traits among students in the Hashemite University. International Education Studies, 6(8), 71-82.
44. Mahmud, M. S., Talukder, M. U., & Rahman, S. M. (2020). Does 'Fear of COVID-19' trigger future career anxiety? An empirical investigation considering depression from COVID-19 as a mediator. The International Journal of Social Psychiatry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020935488.
45. Marcoulides, G., & Schumacher, R. (2001). New Developments and Techniques in Structural Equation Modelig. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
46. Morgeson, F. P., Mitchell, T. R., & Liu, D. (2015). Event system theory: An event-oriented approach to the organizational sciences. Academy of Management Review, 40(4), 515–537. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2012.0099.
47. Nicola, M., Alsafi, Z., Sohrabi, C., Kerwan, A., Al-Jabir, A., Iosifidis, C., & Agha, R. (2020). The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic: A review. International Journal of Surgery, 78, 185-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.04.018.
48. Pakpour, A. H., & Griffiths, M. D. (2020). The fear of COVID-19 and its role in preventive behaviors. Journal of Concurrent Disorders, 2(1), 58–63.
49. Patton, W., Bartrum, D. A., & Creed, P. A. (2004). Gender differences for optimism, self-esteem, expectations and goals in predicting career planning and exploration in adolescents. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 4, 193-209.
50. Peterson, C. (1988). Explanatory style as a risk factor for illness. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 12, 117-130.
51. Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Assessing mediation in communication research. The Sage Sourcebook of Advanced Data Analysis Methods for Communication Research, 13-54.
52. Qiu, J., Shen, B., Zhao, M., Wang, Z., Xie, B., & Xu, Y. (2020). A nationwide survey of psychological distress among Chinese people in the COVID-19 epidemic: Implications and policy recommendations. General Psychiatry, 33(2), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1136/gpsych-2020-100213.
53. Rudolph, C.W., Lavigne, K. N., & Zacher, H. (2017). Career adaptability: A meta-analysis of relationships with measures of adaptivity, adapting responses, and adaptation results. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 98, 17–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2016.09.002.
54. Rudolph, C. W. & Zacher, H. (2020). COVID-19 and careers: On the futility of generational explanations. Journal of Vocational Behavior. Advance online publication. https://doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103433.
55. Savickas, M. L. (2005). The theory and practice of career construction. In Steven D. Brown & Robert W. Lent (Eds.), Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work, 42–70. N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
56. Savickas, M. L. (2013). Career construction theory and practice. In Steven D. Brown & Robert W. Lent (Eds.), Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work, 147–183. N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
57. Savickas, M. L., & Hartung, P. (2012). My Career Story: An autobiographical workbook for life-career success. http://vocopher.com/CSI/CCI_workbook.pdf.
58. Santilli, S., Marcionetti, J., Rochat, S., Rossier, J., & Nota, L. (2017). Career adaptability, hope, optimism, and life satisfaction in Italian and Swiss adolescents. Journal of Career Development, 44(1), 62-76. https://doi:10.1177/0894845316633793.
59. Schwatken, S. (2014). Incongruence and attitudes toward career counseling. Unpublished PhD thesis, Iowa State Univeristy, Ames.
60. Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5.
61. Seligman, M. E., & Pawelski, J. O. (2003). Positive psychology: FAQs. Psychological Inquiry, 14, 159–163. https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/sites/default/files/ppfaqs.pdf.
62. Şensoy, G., & Siyez, D. M. (2019). The Career Distress Scale: Structure, concurrent and discriminant validity, and internal reliability in a Turkish sample. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 19, 203–216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-018-9376-3.
63. Sharf, R. S. (2017). Kariyer gelişim kuramlarının kariyer danışmasına uygulanması. (F. Bacanlı & K. Öztemel, Eds.) (1st ed.). Ankara: Pegem Akademi.
64. Snyder, C.R. (2002). Hope theory: Rainbows in the mind. Psychological Inquiry, 13(4), 249-275.
65. Spurk, D., & Straub, C. (2020). Flexible employment relationships and careers in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Vocational Behavior, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103435.
66. Super, D. E. (1980). A life-span, life-space approach to career development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 16(3), 282–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(80)90056-1.
67. Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics. Boston: Pearson.
68. Taber, B. J., Hartung, P. J., Briddick, H., Briddick, W. C., & Rehfuss, M. (2011). Career style interview: A contextualized approach to career counseling. The Career Development Quarterly, 59, 274-287. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2011.tb00069.x.
69. Terjesen, M. D., Jacofsky, M., Froh, J., & Di Giuseppe, R. (2004). Integrating positive psychology into schools: Implications for practice. Psychology in the Schools, 41(1), 163-172.
70. Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., McIntyre, R. S., Choo, F. N., Tran, B., Ho, R., Sharma, V. K., & Ho, C. (2020). A longitudinal study on the mental health of general population during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 87, 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.028.
71. Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., Ho, C. S., & Ho, R. C. (2020). Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic among the general population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1729), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051729.
72. World Health Organization (2020a). Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19). Retrieved 2 August 2020 from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses#:~:text=symptoms.
73. World Health Organization (2020b). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Retrieved 2 August 2020 from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019.
74. Zenger, M., Glaesmer, H., Höckel, M., &Hinz, A. (2011). Pessimism predicts anxiety, depression and quality of life in female cancer patients. Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, 41(1), 87-94.
75. Zolotov, Y., Reznik, A., Bender, S., & Isralowitz, R. (2020). COVID-19 fear, mental health, and substance use among Israeli university students. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00351-8.