Self-esteem during university studies predicts career characteristics 10 years later

Abstract

To examine how self-esteem measured during university studies would impact on the characteristics of the work career 10 years later, 297 university students completed the Rosenberg’s self-esteem inventory four times while at university and various career-related questionnaires 10 years later. Latent Growth Curve Modeling showed that a high overall level of self-esteem predicted being in permanent employment 10 years later, having a high salary, and reporting a high level of work engagement, and job satisfaction, and a low level of burnout. By contrast, low self-esteem predicted unemployment, feelings of exhaustion, cynicism and reduced accomplishment at work, and low levels of work engagement and job satisfaction.