The current study describes the construction and validation of a measure of anticipatory threat experienced by emerging adults with regards to the transition from college to the workplace. Current research suggests that emerging adulthood may be a distinct developmental period (see Arnett, 2004 for review), and with the growing number of emerging adults enrolled in college, it is important to identify whether they view their transition out of college and into the workplace as stressful. In line with Lazarus & Folkman’s (1984) theory of stress appraisal, a number of items assessing primary appraisal of threat were developed and a measure was constructed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

A final measure of 20-items with two-correlated sub-factors assessing threat related to finding a job that is personally fulfilling and finding a job that is financially stable was identified. This measure was then validated using several psychological/social factors including, depression, anxiety, coping, perceived discrimination, perceived family/friend support, and trait neuroticism along with several demographic characteristics including gender, sexual orientation, racial/ethnicity, and international student status. Post-graduate employment and education were also used to validate the measure.

Results supported validational hypotheses of psychological/social factors. Limited support for demographic factors emerged, and there was no support of future plans hypotheses. Further research is needed to assess the nomological soundness of this measure using larger and more diverse samples.