The relationship between cognitive ability emotional intelligence and negative career thoughts: a study of career-exploring adults
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Authors
Cilliers, Frans
Dahl, D
Issue Date
2012
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Abstract
Orientation: Career exploration can be a stressful experience, often manifested by negative
career thoughts. In this article, the factors which influence the ability to cope with negative
thinking are investigated.
Research purpose: This study investigated the relationship between cognitive ability,
emotional intelligence and negative thoughts pertaining to career in a sample of unemployed,
non-student adults.
Motivation for study: There is a need for research which investigates the psychological factors
that contribute to successful career exploration and decision-making. Cognitive ability is one
such factor, whilst emotional intelligence is another whose validity is not yet well established.
Research design, approach and method: A survey design and quantitative procedures were
used in gathering and analysing data gathered from 193 non-student, middle-aged adults
attending a community-based career exploration programme in British Columbia, Canada.
Cognitive ability, emotional intelligence and negative career thoughts before and after a career
exploration programme were measured.
Main findings: Neither cognitive ability nor any aspect of emotional intelligence predicted
negative career thinking change. Cognitive ability predicted overall negative career thoughts
as well as decision-making confusion, but only after the programme. The ability to manage
emotions, however, predicted negative career thoughts both before and after the career
decision-making programme.
Practical/managerial implications: The managing emotions component of emotional
intelligence is significantly associated with negative career thoughts. These findings suggest
that career counselling requires that the role of emotions and their influence on behaviours
must be given more consideration. Industrial and organisational (IO) psychologists would
benefit from engaging in programmes that train them to assist clients in becoming more aware
of, and increasing, their own emotional intelligence.
Contribution/value-add: The study added insights to the field of career psychology regarding
the ability of emotional intelligence to predict important outcomes regarding the dimensions
of emotional intelligence (EI) as measured by a performance-based test predicting negative
career thoughts amongst the non-student, adult population
Description
Citation
Cilliers FVN;Dahl D. (2012) The relationship between cognitive ability emotional intelligence and negative career thoughts: a study of career-exploring adults. SA Journal of Human Resource Management 10(2)
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ISSN
1683-7584