Examination of the relationship between the levels of unemployment anxiety and the levels of happiness of teacher candidates

This research aims to examine the relationship between teacher candidates' unemployment anxiety levels and their happiness levels. Pre-service teachers experience various anxieties and anxieties in the process of finding a job after graduation; this may cause an increase in unemployment anxiety and affect happiness levels. Unemployment anxiety is evaluated within the framework of factors such as working expectations, concerns about the future, and thoughts about the job-finding process. Happiness levels, on the other hand, are handled within the framework of factors such as general life satisfaction, positive emotions, and general well-being. This study was carried out to provide important information that can be used in the development of support programs and policies for teacher candidates, to reduce unemployment anxiety and increase their happiness levels, and to improve the professional success and general quality of life of teacher candidates. This study aimed to examine prospective teachers' unemployment anxiety levels and happiness levels in terms of different variables such as gender, age, class, mother's education, father's education, and family income level. 250 teacher candidates from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades studying in different departments of Mersin University Education Faculty formed the sample of the research. In the study, "Oxford Happiness Scale" and "Unemployment Anxiety Scale" were used to determine the happiness levels of teacher candidates. The data were collected from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades studying at Mersin University Education Faculty, Preschool, Classroom Teaching, English, Guidance and Psychological Counselling, Science, Primary School Mathematics, and Social Studies Departments. It was determined that the unemployment anxiety scores of the teacher candidates were high, there was no significant difference in the unemployment anxiety levels of the teacher candidates according to the variables of gender, age, mother and father education level, family income, class, and there was a significant difference according to the department variable. It was found that the happiness levels of the teacher candidates were low, there was no significant difference in the happiness levels of the teacher candidates according to the variables of gender, age, mother and father education level, and class; It has been determined that there is a significant difference in terms of department and family income variables. It was determined that as the unemployment anxiety level of teacher candidates increased, their happiness level scores decreased, and as unemployment concerns decreased, their happiness level scores increased.