Motivation, burnout, and engagement during critical transitions from school to work

Abstract

Educational transitions and the transition from school to working life present substantial challenges for youth in modern societies. This chapter presents results from two longitudinal studies, the FinEdu study and Helsinki Longitudinal Student Study (HELS), in which young people were followed for several years during critical educational transitions. These longitudinal studies focus on how engagement and burnout change and what role these two factors play during transitions, as well as investigating the effect of motivation and the strategies young people apply during their studies. The FinEdu study presents findings on how young people navigate their educational transitions from comprehensive school to upper-secondary education and further education, whereas the HELS study shows how young people navigate their university studies and the related transition to working life.