Unemployment Anxiety in Emerging Adults: The Predictive Roles of Emotional Intelligence, Procrastination, and Fear of Failure

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the psychological factors associated with unemployment anxiety in young adults, with a focus on emotional intelligence, procrastination, and fear of failure. A sample of 200 young adults aged between 22- 30 years were taken. The He Wi’s Unemployment Anxiety Scale (HUAS) – Final Version, Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale – 10 (BEIS-10), Procrastination Scale (Lay,1986) and The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory were used to assess the variables. Descriptive statistics, followed by Pearson’s correlation analysis to examine correlation among the variables. Results revealed a significant negative correlation between unemployment anxiety and emotional intelligence (r = –0.581), and a significant positive correlation between unemployment anxiety and procrastination (r = 0.393). Emotional intelligence was also negatively correlated with procrastination (r = –0.580) and fear of failure (r = –0.180), while procrastination and fear of failure showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.518). However, the correlation between unemployment anxiety and fear of failure was weak (r = 0.092). A multiple regression analysis was conducted to predict procrastination based on emotional intelligence and unemployment anxiety. The model was significant (F(2, 197) = 50.97, p < .001, R² = .341). Emotional intelligence significantly predicted lower procrastination (β = –0.53, p < .001), while unemployment anxiety showed no significant effect. The study recommends incorporating emotional intelligence training into academic and career services to help lower anxiety, reduce avoidance, and encourage active pursuit of career goals.