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.

DEMOGRAPHIC PREDICTORS IN SATISFACTION WITH ACADEMIC MAJOR AND NEGATIVE CAREER THOUGHTS RELATION: IMPLICATION FOR CAREER INTERVENTIONS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

To successfully progress in achieving the objective of vocational and technical education, it is necessary to determine the students’ satisfaction levels with the programmes as it relates to their career decision efficacy. This research, therefore, determined the demographic predictors in the relation between academic major satisfaction and negative career thoughts. The research was guided with four hypothesized research questions. Cross-sectional design that embedded a correlational survey was employed. The participants were 622 vocational education undergraduates selected from a public state-owned university in South-west Nigeria. The students’ demographic variables (e.g. gender, academic level of study, age, and subject areas of specialization), academic major satisfaction scale, and negative career outlook sub-scale were the main constituents of the questionnaire that was used for data collection. Data analyses were performed using mean, standard deviation, bivariate correlation, and regression analyses. Results depicted that the students’ satisfaction with their academic major significantly predicted their negative career thoughts. It was also found that gender, academic level and subject areas of specializations were the demographic variables that predicted satisfaction with one’s academic major, as well as negative career thoughts. Intervention studies were therefore recommended for career behaviour modification among vocational education undergraduates. Keywords: academic major satisfaction, career thought, demographic variables, vocational education students.

Effect of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy on Negative Career Thoughts of Students in Technical Colleges in Nigeria

Negative career thoughts are cognitive barriers that interfere with an individual’s career decision-making and successful career development. The current study examined the effect of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on negative career thoughts of students in technical colleges in Nigeria. The study utilized a pretest–posttest control group design. One hundred and seventy-three participants from technical colleges in the Southeast zone of the country completed a measure of career thoughts at pretest, posttreatment, and follow-up: the College Students’ Career Thoughts Scale. An REBT career program manual guided the intervention for 12 weeks. Data collected were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance, chi-square, and t-test. Results show that the negative career thoughts of the REBT group participants were significantly reduced relative to a waitlist control group at the end of the intervention. Follow-up tests conducted after three months and six months revealed that the significant decrease in negative career thoughts of the REBT group participants was sustained. The outcomes of the current study suggest that REBT is an invaluable group therapy for assisting college students in overcoming negative thoughts associated with career choice and decision. It would be helpful if further longitudinal evaluation were implemented in Nigeria and in other countries to evaluate whether and how an REBT-based program can improve vocational maturity and vocational identity of technical college students.

Decided and Undecided Students: Career Self-efficacy, Negative Thinking, and Decision-Making Difficulties

The career concern differences between undecided and decided college students (N = 223) are examined. Undecided college students (n = 83) reported lower career decision-making self-efficacy, higher incidences of negative career thoughts, and more career decision-making difficulties than their decided peers (n = 143). Results reveal that undecided students are as ready to make a career-related decision as their decided counterparts but may lack or be receiving inconsistent career information. Academic advising implications include ways to more effectively serve these populations. Practical suggestions from social-cognitive career theory and the cognitive information-processing approach are provided.