ABSTRACT THE RELATIONSHIP OF LIFESTYLE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BIRTH ORDER WITH CAREER DECISION SELF-EFFICACY by Ronald M. Herndon Over the course of the last several decades Adlerians have demonstrated the vocational utility of Individual Psychology and the constructs of lifestyle and psychological birth order in determining career interests, preferences, and choices (Watkins, 1984a; Watts & Engels, 1995). However, these constructs have not been examined in terms of their relationship to career decision self-efficacy (CDSE). This study examined the relationship of the Adlerian lifestyle and psychological birth order constructs with CDSE among undergraduates (N = 156) at a major southeastern university. Participants were administered a survey packet containing a demographic questionnaire, the BASIS-A Inventory, the White-Campbell Psychological Birth Order Inventory (PBOI), and the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSES). The BASIS-A Inventory and the PBOI are instruments measuring the Adlerian constructs of lifestyle and psychological birth order. Both of these instruments do not yield a singular overall score for these constructs. Rather, scores are reported as scale totals corresponding to the factors associated with these constructs. The CDSES is an instrument measuring career decision self-efficacy, which yields scores for the overall measure as well as the scales corresponding to the factors associated with the construct. Results indicate that many statistically significant relationships exist among the factors of lifestyle with the factor scales of CDSE and overall CDSE, including belonging/social interest (BSI) and striving for perfection (P) subscale. Further, the P subscale proved to be a statistically significant predictor of overall CDSE (ρ < .05). The factors of psychological birth order had fewer statistically significant relationships with CDSE and associated factors and did not demonstrate statistically significant predictive ability with CDSE. The significant relationships and predictive ability of specific factors of the lifestyle construct, as well as the significant relationships of psychological birth order, found in this study have implications for increasing the theoretical knowledge base and vocational applicability of Individual Psychology as well as gaining further practical understanding of utilizing these constructs in counseling and vocational assessment.

The purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire to measure career self-efficacy for undergraduates. The theoretical framework of the questionnaire was based on Bandura¡¦s self-efficacy theory. A total of 409 participants were selected by judgment sampling from the first- and second-grade undergraduate of six colleges in national Sun Yat-sen university. The newly developed career efficacy and motivation questionnaire (CEMQ) was modified from Taylor & Betz's CDMSE scale. The content validity was informed by three experts, and the data were analyzed by rating scale model (RSM) by ConQuest. After removing the items that did not fit the model, seventy-two items were retained in the CEMQ questionnaire.

Everyone has to make different choices when they are in different career stages. Individual choices for study subject and occupation lead to individual career directions and future developments. So this research aims to listen to individual life stories and influence factors through narrative analysis to understand why R&D people choose R&D engineer as their occupation. This research applies narrative analysis of Qualitative research by using intensive interviews to collect life experience of each participant. Individual story style showed individual decision experience and related analysis factors. This research aims to focus on seven participants concerning the issue of career decision making of R&D people in the high technology industries. In order to select a model containing participants¡¦ decision making processes to each of their selecting factors are adequately analyzed with respect to abstracted issues and messages based on their experiences sharing.

The purpose of this study was to assess the career aspirations, career maturity and career decision-making self-efficacy among youth in the Texas 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Program. While career development is a life-long process, the adolescent years are a critical time for youth to explore and confirm their career choices, which is seen as a major turning point in one’s life. A random sample of 350 was used to gather information from senior 4-H members who participate in the 4-H healthy lifestyles program. Data were collected with the use of an online survey instrument and resulted in a total of 170 responses (48.6%) with 127 of the responses (36.3%) being complete and usable. A scale developed by the researcher was used to measure the impact involvement in the 4-H healthy lifestyles program had on youths’ career development. Very low, positive relationships were discovered between the healthy lifestyles program impact statements and years in 4-H; however, they were not significant. The Career Maturity Inventory (CMI) was incorporated into the online research instrument. The career maturity of the 4-H members was found to be greater than the high school norms. Significant differences were discovered based upon age. Very low, positive correlations were found for the CMI scores based upon years in 4-H; however, correlations were not significant. No significant differences were found for career maturity based upon gender. The Career Decision Self-Efficacy – Short Form (CDSE-SF) was also used in the data collection process to reveal the confidence in youth to make career decisions. Results indicate the 4-H members have good confidence in making career decisions. Females outscored males on the total mean score and four of the five sub-scales; however, the only significant difference based on gender was for problem solving. Significant differences were also discovered based upon age. When compared to years in 4-H, very low, positive correlations were found for the CDSE-SF mean score and all five sub-scales; however, only some were found to be significant. The results indicate that participation in the 4-H healthy lifestyles program has had an impact on career choice and development. Youth have a readiness to make career decisions, and high levels of confidence in completing tasks necessary to make decisions about careers. However, years in 4-H and the highest level of participation in healthy lifestyles program activities did not have a statistically significant impact on youths’ career development. Feedback provided by youth on what the 4-H program can do to promote youth career interests and choice, guided some of the recommendations provided by the researcher.

abstract: The present study of two hundred and seven university students examined the structural relation of future-orientation (both valence and instrumentality), career decision-making self-efficacy and career indecision (choice/commitment anxiety and lack of readiness). Structural equation modeling results indicated that while the overall proposed model fit the data well, my hypotheses were partially supported. Valence was not significantly related to career decision-making self-efficacy, choice/commitment anxiety and lack of readiness. However, instrumentality completely mediated the relation between valence and career decision-making self-efficacy, choice/commitment anxiety and lack of readiness. Instrumentality was significantly related to career decision-making self-efficacy and lack of readiness. Career decision-making self-efficacy completely mediated the relation between instrumentality and choice/commitment anxiety; however, it only partially mediated the relation between instrumentality and lack of readiness. Although the proposed model was invariant across gender, the findings indicate that women reported higher instrumentality and lower lack of readiness than did men. No differences were found for career decision-making self-efficacy and choice/commitment anxiety across gender. The findings suggest that psychologists, counselors, teachers, and career interventionists should consider the role future time perspective in university students' career development. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Counseling Psychology 2014

Mindfulness, characterized with present-moment awareness, non-judgment, and non-reactivity, has demonstrated its potential in contemporary counseling psychology as a cultivatable coping mechanism for healing against negative emotions and symptomology. Researchers have identified health benefits for those who possess higher levels of this trait without practice. Limited research has explored the potential benefits of mindfulness in contributing to the cultivation of adaptive career decision-making. In particular, there is no study investigating the the role of mindfulness on college students' coping with career indecision stemming from emotional and personality concerns, or its influence on their occupational engagement. This study was a survey-based investigation of the relations among dispositional mindfulness, occupational engagement, and emotional career indecision in a diverse sample of college participants (N = 166). The results from analysis indicate that dispositional mindfulness is significantly related to emotional career indecision and occupational engagement, with multiple facets of mindfulness contributing a significant amount of variance in emotional career indecision. Future research and clinical implications are also discussed.

abstract: The current study investigated the dynamic interplay of career decision ambiguity tolerance and career indecision over three assessment times in a sample of college students (n=583). While the previous research has repeatedly shown an association of career decision ambiguity tolerance with career indecision, the direction of this association has not been adequately assessed with longitudinal investigation. It was hypothesized in this study that there is a reciprocal pattern of career decision ambiguity tolerance leading to subsequent career indecision and career indecision leading to subsequent career decision ambiguity tolerance. Using a cross-lagged panel design, this study found support for the reciprocal pattern that aversion with ambiguity led to increased negative experience, choice anxiety, and lack of readiness in career decision making, while negative experience, choice anxiety, and lack of readiness led to increased aversion with ambiguity as well. Additionally, this study revealed that choice anxiety and readiness for career decision making led to increased interests in new information. The key findings were discussed with respect to the theoretical and clinical implications for career counseling along with limitations and suggestions for future research. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Counseling Psychology 2017

abstract: Research has revealed that familial concerns and obligations do impact the career decision making of people who shift their career goal away from the research academy and towards careers that are perceived as less intensive in terms of time and productivity demands. However, this same research line does not explain whether or not those who persist in a research professorship career aspiration experience the same familial concerns and obligations as those who shift or compromise on that goal. In line with the theory of circumscription and compromise (TCC), the current study examined specific accessibility concerns, or perceptions of barriers associated with implementing a preferred career, that contribute to doctoral student career decision making. More specifically, two groups including those who shifted their career path away from the research professorship (compromisers) and those whose career paths remain geared towards the research professorship (persisters) were examined by multivariate analysis of variance with a covariate (MANCOVA) to determine how accessibility concerns differ according to group membership. Accessibility concerns were also examined for gender differences. Results from multivariate and between-subjects follow up tests point to significant differences between the two groups on two accessibility concerns, planning for a career and family and some components of work-time flexibility preferences. Compromisers reported significantly higher preferences for work-time flexibility and scored higher on the planning for a career and a family measure when compared to persisters. No gender differences in accessibility concerns were found but female persisters were less likely than male persisters to indicate plans for children/presence of children. This study provides support for the TCC as applied to doctoral student career development and provides evidence that doctoral student persisters and compromisers do not experience accessibility concerns in the same way. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Counseling Psychology 2018

The theoretical part of this diploma thesis consists of four basic areas which are crucial for better understanding of profession choice difficulties and subsequently provides an introduction to the second part of the thesis - the empirical part. In the first chapter, the reader will be informed about the definition of the profession choice, its historical development, which covers a pretty wide context, in which the profession choice is being accomplished. The following chapter deals with career development theories focusing on personality, development theories targeting career and theories solely focused on social influences effecting the career development. The last two chapters deal with an adolescence period which plays the key role in the further career path of the individual. There is also a chapter describing and sorting difficulties while choosing a profession. The aim of the empirical part is to describe the development of profession choice difficulties at the end of secondary education - the period of life which is considered by many authors to be vitally important for the adolescent profession development. Hypotheses are verified by comparison of the results of the questionnaire that investigates profession choice difficulties in between third, fourth and fourth grade - directly before...

The literature on the career development of First-Generation College Students of Color (FGCSC) lacks a focus on the career decision-making difficulties consequently from racial microaggressions, academic self-efficacy, academic stress, and mental well-being at PWIs. Furthermore, there is a lack of empirical studies related to FGCSC help-seeking behaviors for racial microaggressions and the utilization of university counseling and career services on these campuses. The following research questions guided this study: a) What is the relationship between help-seeking attitudes and behaviors and racial microaggressions, academic self-efficacy, academic stress, mental well-being, and career decision-making difficulties among first-generation college students of Color (FGCSC) attending PWIs? b) Can the help-seeking behaviors of (FGCSC) attending PWIs be predicted by age, gender, ethnicity, racial microaggressions, academic self-efficacy and stress, mental well-being, and career decision-making difficulties? FGCSC present distinct personal, social, emotional, academic, and cultural needs. The growth in racial microaggressions and racial insults manifested within PWIs requires an examination into how services are tailored within university counseling and career advising centers to meet these needs. Racial microaggressions can result in stress that negatively influences both mental well-being and career decision making. Thus, career and personal counseling services provided on college campuses should be able to help students combat and cope with these stressors. In addition, these services should provide culturally-informed counseling interventions to help FGCSC determine how skills, values, and interests align with a future job that fits their personality and cultural background. A need for more literature that examines the relationship between these variables will assist university counselors and career centers within predominantly White institutions with interventions for this special group of students. The stressors related to racial microaggressions may result in career decision-making difficulties that contribute to low self-efficacy that increase low retention rates and lack of matriculation. A better understanding of the relationships between racial microaggressions, mental well-being and career decision making can result in the tailoring of counseling and advising services on PWIs. Practitioners employed in counseling centers, advising offices, and career services must have a working knowledge of FGCSC experiences with racial microaggressions at the societal, institutional, interpersonal, and individual levels to deliver effective services.