PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING THROUGHOUT THE TRANSITION FROM ADOLESCENCE TO ADULTHOOD

A cohort of 172 high school leavers were followed over a a-year period to determine factors that affect well-being throughout transition. Hi gh school leavers are those individuals who are graduating from high s chool and are progressing to further schooling, to work, or are unempl oyed. Employment and school continuation were unrelated to self-esteem and depression. Factors that influenced the transition process includ ed money and activity problems, internality, stability, and controllab ility both of attributions about general transition difficulties at sp ecific time periods and of external attributions about unemployment. T he need for new approaches to career theory and practice is discussed.