Research shows that teens who set ambitious goals are more successful as adults
In the 80s, he used to say “Say and it will happen” in the popular show that made children’s wishes come true. “Dream it and it will happen,” new research tells teenagers. It’s not, as Coelho says, “the universe will conspire,” but findings show that teenagers who set ambitious goals for themselves are more successful as adults.
The study was recently published Journal of Personality and Social Psychology And according to researcher Rodica Damian, associate professor of psychology at the University of Houston, teens who set higher education and career goals tend to have higher education, higher income, more creativity at work, and greater professional prestige, among other things. After 12 years.
According to the researchers, this does not mean that a person’s goals will not change. Some dreams are forgotten, other goals remain strong and new ones come to the fore.
However, the study found that early educational and performance-related goal setting consistently predicted better income, and changes in goals heralded an exciting, higher-profile career.
As part of the study, researchers followed two groups of young Icelanders for 12 years, from adolescence to adulthood.
Researchers have looked at how life goals develop with age and the goals young people set for their educational and career achievements during adolescence.
In terms of education, research has shown that adolescents with higher goals and those who show a more positive pattern of change in educational goals have higher educational achievement in young adulthood.
So according to Damian, the research shows that we need to encourage teenagers to think about their future and set high goals for themselves.
“Life goals are expected to change over time, and these changes are expected to have future consequences, including career outcomes,” he says.
He adds: “By understanding how changes in life goals relate to educational and occupational outcomes (above and beyond the adolescent level), we show how changes in them (including adolescent psyche and mind) can predict desired educational and occupational attainment . .