Despite the frightening reality of having to find a job and paying off debt, a new study shows graduating seniors have a more positive approach to life than freshmen.

According to a study released by the Emotion Lab at Brandeis University, seniors in college have a sense of how much time they have left in school and avoid negative images and thoughts to balance out their emotions.

The study involved 75 college students at Northeastern University, who observed slides of two photographs, one of a positive expression and one of a negative expression. Eye-tracking technology was used to determine which image the students observed and for how long.

"First-years were found to spend a significantly larger portion of their time viewing sad faces than did seniors," co-author Derek Isaacowitz said. "Seniors also exhibited significantly higher levels of positive effect than did first-years."

The results of the study, which are published in the May 2006 issue of Social Development, are similar to those of studies in the past, Isaacowitz said.

Another study authored by Isaacowitz compared college-aged participants to the elderly. The elderly had a much more positive perspective than the young adults. "The theory is based on the argument that any time one's context of time is limited, they will show these positive effects," Isaacowitz said.

The results agree with the idea that people are always keeping track of time, Isaacowitz said.

"The end is in sight," said Erin Beasley (senior-environmental and renewable resource economics). "It's stressful, but you're accomplishing everything you need to at once."

Richard Carlson, director of undergraduate studies in the psychology department, had not yet heard about the study on college students, but he said he was familiar with the results of the study on the elderly.

"It does make sense," he said. "Throughout college, you shift from being focused on the moment to thinking ahead to the rest of your life."

Steve Zarit, professor of human development, said the transition to adulthood is a strong topic in his field, and the general view is that the elderly balance their emotions successfully.

"A lot of data shows that serious depression is not high among the elderly because they regulate their emotions more effectively," he said. "It's an enormously complex transition for young adults."

Isaacowitz said looking ahead and setting goals is what makes people gain a more positive outlook on the tests. Seniors have a better sense of the end of college than freshmen do, and the elderly attempt to appreciate the time they have left.

"That's really a surprise," Yasamin Ghadiri (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said. "Freshmen are thinking they have four more years before they have to leave school and start working."

Erika Carrasquillo (senior-finance) said she is about to graduate and is waiting to hear from law schools. "It's definitely stressful because some people have no job or are waiting to hear from grad schools," she said.

That stress, however, is not bringing Carrasquillo down. "I'm happy because I know it's the last semester," she said.

Both Carlson and Zarit said it's hard to know for sure how seniors will change after graduation.

"It really depends on what the student is doing," Carlson said. "If they start a grad program, they'll have the same short-term perspective. If they have a career, they have the long-term perspective again."