A longitudinal and multi-method examination of interestoccupation congruence within and across time

Wille, Bart; Tracey, Terence J.G.; Feys, Marjolein; De Fruyt, Filip

doi:10.1016/J.JVB.2013.12.001

Title

A longitudinal and multi-method examination of interestoccupation congruence within and across time

Author

Wille, Bart

Tracey, Terence J.G.

Feys, Marjolein

De Fruyt, Filip

Abstract

Remarkably little research has addressed change and stability in personenvironment fit across time. The objective of the current study was to address this gap in the literature by investigating Holland interestoccupation congruence across time for a sample of college alumni (N = 167) that were tracked during the first third of their professional career. Congruence was examined in all its complexity, including a repeated assessment of both occupations and interests, the use of objective (O*NET) and subjective (self-report) environment assessment methods, and adopting sophisticated congruence calculation methods (i.e., Euclidean distance and profile correlation). This resulted in a total of 12 interestoccupation comparisons within and across time that could be related to general and career specific well-being. The results first indicated moderate levels of stability in interests and occupations across the 15-year time interval, yet also with room for change. Congruence analyses indicated significant interestoccupation fit at the beginning of the career and 15 years later, with themagnitude of congruence slightly varying depending on which occupation assessment and which congruence method was used. Profile correlation congruence did not change over time in absolute terms and evidenced relative stability. Euclidean distance indices had little relative stability over time but did manifest some absolute changes in levels of congruence. Finally, job change moderated the association between interestoccupation congruence and life satisfaction in such away that higher levels of satisfactionwere reported only when little job change was present.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Journal of vocational behavior. - San Diego, Calif.

Publication

San Diego, Calif. : 2014

ISSN

0001-8791

DOI

10.1016/J.JVB.2013.12.001

Volume/pages

84 :1 (2014) , p. 59-73