Disentangling Trait Affect From Situational Affect in the Prediction of Academic Major Satisfaction.

EMOTIONS; AFFECT (Psychology); COLLEGE students; STUDENT well-being; SCIENTIFIC method

This study clarifies the role of emotions in determining college students' satisfaction with their choice of academic major by separating trait affect from situational affect. Students (N = 196) first completed a measure of trait affect administered via an online survey. Two weeks later, on a second survey, they reported the frequency of positive and negative emotions they experienced in major‐related classes (i.e., situational affect) and a measure of academic major satisfaction. Emotions experienced in classes were associated with major satisfaction after controlling for trait affect, suggesting satisfaction is not merely a function of disposition. This finding suggests interventions targeting emotions could hold promise as a way to facilitate major satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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