April 15, 2025
ECU Faculty Examine Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on Young Professionals’ Mindsets
The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered how we live and work—and for young professionals, it reshaped core elements of how they think, feel, and engage on the job. New research from East Carolina University faculty members Dr. William Swart and Dr. Christine M. Kowalczyk investigates the psychometric ripple effects of the pandemic on early-career professionals and highlights important implications for business leaders and policymakers alike.
Titled Before. During. After: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Psychometrics of Young Professionals, the study examines key psychological traits including personality, emotional intelligence, and locus of control. Its findings paint a nuanced picture of how prolonged disruption influenced the internal drivers of behavior and decision-making in the workplace.
According to the authors, the purpose of this research is to help organizations understand the real, measurable psychological effects the pandemic had on young professionals—and to encourage the development of human resource policies that balance corporate objectives with the well-being of employees in a post-pandemic environment.
The research offers several important takeaways for business managers, HR professionals, and policymakers:
- Gender-specific impacts: The pandemic triggered more significant psychometric changes in women than in men. The authors suggest that future emergency response or wellness programs may need to account for these differences to offer meaningful, targeted support.
- Decline in conscientiousness: Both male and female respondents showed a notable decrease in conscientiousness during the pandemic—a trend that persisted even as workplaces reopened. Organizations may need to rethink their HR strategies to promote environments that rebuild motivation, focus, and accountability.
- Preference for remote work: Many young professionals expressed reluctance to return to traditional in-person roles post-pandemic. Swart and Kowalczyk emphasize the need for managers to implement flexible work models that reflect employee preferences, as these can promote wellness while sustaining productivity.
This research underscores a broader call to action: as the world adjusts to new norms, the long-term psychological impacts of COVID-19 on the workforce must not be overlooked.
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