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Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training
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Hope, mental health, and competency development in the workplace

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training volume 3, pages 129–146 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Hope is an important motivational psychological resource for performance in various domains such as academics, the workplace, and athletics. This study examined the role of hope and mental health for competency development over 24 months within vocational education and training. A structural equation model based on longitudinal data suggested that vocational competency at the end of training was related to levels of hope three months earlier, even after controlling for vocational competency 24 months earlier. Mid training vocational competency was only marginally related to subsequent levels of hope nine months later. Though hypothesized cross-lagged effects between hope and mental health were not found, the constructs nevertheless related synchronously. Higher vocational competency related positively to mental health nine months later. This study thus suggest, that promoting hope at the workplace will not just strengthen psychological resources, but also positively impact the development of vocational competencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of upper secundary teacher education, LDS 2, University of Freiburg/Fribourg, Rue de Faucigny 2, CH-1700, Freiburg, Switzerland

    Christian A. Wandeler & Franz. J. Baeriswyl

  2. Clifton Strengths School/Gallup, Washington, D.C., USA

    Shane J. Lopez

Authors
  1. Christian A. Wandeler
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  2. Shane J. Lopez
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  3. Franz. J. Baeriswyl
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Correspondence to Christian A. Wandeler.

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The authors gratefully acknowledge the doctoral stipend awarded to the first author by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the financial support for the research project provided by the Swiss Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology.

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Wandeler, C.A., Lopez, S.J. & Baeriswyl, F.J. Hope, mental health, and competency development in the workplace. Empirical Res Voc Ed Train 3, 129–146 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03546502

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