Dysfunctional Career Thoughts and the Sophomore Slump Among Students With Learning Disabilities

The present study sought to underline the need for expanded transitioning college programming to the 2nd year by examining dysfunctional career thoughts among college students with learning disabilities (LDs). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to examine the mean differences between 93 college sophomores and seniors with LD on the three subscales of the Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI). Findings from the MANOVA showed significant mean differences among groups. Follow-up analysis found that sophomores showed significantly higher dysfunctional career thoughts than seniors. Seniors displayed substantially lower mean scores on the CTI subscales than sophomores. Findings support the need to extend transition programming that includes addressing students’ dysfunctional career thoughts beyond the 1st year to help ease college transition difficulties and thus promote persistence and retention of students with LD. Research and practice implications are presented for career scholars and practitioners working with college students with LD.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEGATIVE CAREER THOUGHTS AND SELF-EFFICACY WITH CAREER DECISION-MAKING DIFFICULTIES AMONG FIRST YEAR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF UPM

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between negative career thoughts and self-efficacy with career decision-making difficulties among first-year undergraduate students of UPM. The sample for this study consisted of 368 first-year undergraduate students of UPM and participants were recruited using stratified random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information. Career Thoughts Inventory was utilized in this study to measure negative career thoughts. General Self-efficacy Scale was utilized to measure self-efficacy. Other than that, the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire was utilized to measure career decision-making difficulties. The results revealed that most of the respondents had a high level of self-efficacy (62.2%). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that there was a positive significant relationship between negative career thoughts (decision-making confusion) and career decision-making difficulties (lack of information; r = 0.595, p < 0.01 and inconsistent information; r = 0.579, p < 0.01). Besides, there was also a significant positive relationship between negative career thoughts (commitment anxiety) and career decision-making difficulties (lack of information; r = 0.588, p < 0.01 and inconsistent information; r = 0.572, p < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant negative relationship between self-efficacy and career decision-making difficulties (lack of information; r = -0.388, p < 0.01, inconsistent information; r = -0.298, p < 0.01). Therefore, the findings of this study concluded that negative career thoughts and self-efficacy are important to understand the patterns of difficulties in career decision-making among first-year undergraduate students of UPM. Furthermore, further research could be expanded in different academic institutions in another region with a bigger sample to promote a better generalization of findings and yield more reliable data.

Negative Career Thoughts Among Pakistani and Korean College Students: Implications for the Asian Context

This study aimed at investigating the integrative cross-cultural perspective of negative career thoughts by comparing college students’ data from Pakistan and Korea. Data obtained from 200 Pakistani college students were compared to the data obtained from 200 Korean college students. Results show a significantly higher score on negative career thoughts when compared to Korean students. Findings indicate cross-cultural differences in negative career thoughts reflective of context-based differences in policy and career guidance systems. Findings provide support to Systems Theory Framework. However, the similarities in the construct manifestation provide a theoretical basis for career guidance in the collectivist and Asian contexts. Findings suggest the importance of comparative data, indigenization of assessment tool to assess negative career thoughts, and further exploration of negative career thoughts while considering cultural dimensions.