Career interest tests are very helpful in helping teenagers and young adults decide which career to pursue. A new study from Michigan State University challenges the assumption that vocational interests are only relevant for early career decisions. In fact, it remains relevant even into adulthood.
This study Journal of Personality and Social Psychologywere the first to examine whether interests predict work, relationship, and community outcomes in midlife and later adulthood.
The study followed more than 8,000 adults over 11 years and found that career interests predicted important life outcomes in adulthood and beyond. Participants first completed a career interest assessment measuring six dimensions: practical, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and traditional in 2011-2012. More than a decade later, key life outcomes across work, relationships, and community life were examined.
“Most people think that interest assessments are something you take in high school to decide what career to pursue and then never think about it again. This study challenges that assumption,” said Lena Romer, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow in the MSU Department of Psychology.
Career interests continue to shape major life decisions into adulthood, such as whether to get married, get a promotion, or volunteer in the community. At the same time, depending on the life stage, interests are reflected in life choices differently. ”
Lena Romer, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
This study found that enterprising interests, including an interest in leadership, business, and influencing others, were the most widespread predictive interest category and were positively associated with most work and community outcomes. Other concerns showed more specific relationships. For example, social interests predict relationship outcomes, and artistic interests predict cultural participation.
Relationship outcomes are best predicted by interests in early adulthood, and prediction of work outcomes peaks in midlife. Many other predictions remained stable across adulthood, especially for outcomes that are less tied to life stage criteria.
The researchers noted that the predictive power of interests rivals, and in some cases exceeds, the Big Five personality traits.
“Vocational interests are an undervalued concept in personality psychology,” said study co-author Kevin Hoff, assistant professor in the MSU Department of Psychology. “We hope these findings highlight broad connections across multiple life stages and sectors and encourage researchers and practitioners to further utilize interest assessments to help people of all ages navigate career and life choices.”
The study was also co-authored by Christopher Nye, associate professor in the MSU Department of Psychology, and Ron Hsu, associate professor at the University of Iowa.
For more than 170 years, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with extraordinary purpose. One of the top 100 universities in the world and one of America’s leading public research institutions, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and innovation to advance Michigan and the nation and create a better, safer and healthier world for everyone. The university offers life-changing educational opportunities through an inclusive academic community with more than 400 programs of study, and is Michigan’s largest producer of talent, educating more undergraduate students than any other university in the state.
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Reference magazines:
Romer, L. others. (2026) Predictive validity of vocational interests on life outcomes across adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. DOI: 10.1037/pspp0000605. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2027-80205-001?doi=1.
