| dc.description.abstract | In 2008, adolescents’ expectations for the future were deemed "absurdly ambitious" (Baird et
al., 2008). However, recently these seemed to have shifted toward worry and insecurity (NCJ,
2023; SER, 2019). This is concerning given that having positive future expectations is
associated with positive health behaviors, high motivation and overall positive youth
development (McDade et al., 2011; Oettingen & Mayer, 2002; Schmid et al., 2011). This
study is the first western study to investigate how socioeconomic status (SES) relates to future
expectations and whether just world beliefs (JWB), someone’s personal beliefs in a fair and
just world, mediate this relation. Data from self-report questionnaires the YOUth Got Talent
(YGT) project collected from 2019 to 2020 was used, of which the sample of the current
study included 853 Dutch vocational students from 16 to 29 (M = 16.14, SD = 1.54). Three
linear regressions were done and the mediation analysis that was done revealed a positive but
weak relation between SES and future expectations, mediated by JWB. These findings
suggest that a higher SES is associated with more JWB, which in turn leads to more positive
future expectations. The results of this study aligned with its hypotheses and with existing
theoretical perspectives and empiric findings. This study contributes to the understanding of
what factors influence future expectations and hints at the potential for promoting JWB to
enhance future expectations among low SES youth in intervention programs. However,
further research on this topic is needed in order to realize such interventions. | |
