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Personality traits’ effects on self-efficacy and outcome expectations for high school major choice

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Abstract

The current study focuses on the contribution of the Big Five personality traits to the development of self-efficacy and outcome expectations regarding selection of a high school major among 368 Israeli adolescents (M age = 16.07, SD = 0.41). Structural equation analyses showed that higher levels of conscientiousness and extraversion and lower neuroticism contributed to higher self-efficacy. In contrast, higher levels of conscientiousness and neuroticism and lower extraversion contributed to higher outcome expectations. These findings expand our understanding regarding personality characteristics serving as antecedents of self-efficacy and outcome expectations and sets important implications for career interventions with adolescents.

Résumé

Les effets des traits de personnalité sur le sentiment d’efficacité personnelle et les attentes de résultat concernant le choix de l’option principale au lycée. Cette étude se focalise sur la contribution des traits de personnalité du Big Five au développement du sentiment d’efficacité personnelle et des attentes de résultat concernant la sélection de l’option principale au lycée auprès de 368 adolescents israéliens (M âge = 16.07, SD = 0.41). Des analyses d’équations structurelles ont montré que des niveaux plus élevés de caractère consciencieux et d’extraversion, et des niveaux plus faibles de névrosisme, contribuaient à un sentiment d’efficacité personnelle plus élevé. Par contre, des niveaux plus élevés de caractère consciencieux et de névrosisme, et des niveaux plus faibles d’extraversion, contribuaient à des attentes de résultat plus élevées. Ces résultats élargissent notre compréhension de la manière dont les caractéristiques de la personnalité agissent en tant qu’antécédents sur le sentiment d’efficacité personnelle et les attentes de résultats. Ils ont également des implications importantes concernant les interventions de carrière auprès des adolescents.

Zusammenfassung

Die Effekte von Persönlichkeitseigenschaften auf Selbstwirksamkeit und Ergebnis-Erwartungen für die Wahl von High School Fächern. Die vorliegende Studie beschäftigt sich mit dem Beitrag der Big Five Persönlichkeitseigenschaften für die Entwicklung von Selbstwirksamkeit und Ergebnis-Erwartungen bezüglich der Wahl von High School Fächern bei 368 israelischen Jugendlichen (M alter = 16.07, SD = 0.41). Strukturgleichungsanalysen konnten zeigen, dass höhere Level von Gewissenhaftigkeit und Extraversion, sowie geringerer Neurotizismus einen Beitrag zu höherer Selbstwirksamkeit leisten. Dagegen führten höhere Level von Gewissenhaftigkeit und Neurotizismus, sowie geringere Extraversion zu einer niedrigeren Ergebnis-Erwartung. Diese Ergebnisse erweitern unser Verständnis von Persönlichkeitseigenschaften als Antezedenzien für Selbstwirksamkeit und Ergebnis-Erwartungen und lassen wichtige Implikationen für Karriereinterventionen bei Jugendlichen ableiten.

Resumen

Efectos de los rasgos de personalidad sobre la autoeficacia y las expectativas de resultado para la elección de especialidad en la Escuela Secundaria. El estudio actual se centra en la contribución de los de los Cinco Grandes rasgos de personalidad con el desarrollo de la autoeficacia y expectativas de resultados con respecto a la selección de una escuela importante de secundaria entre 368 adolescentes israelíes (M age = 16.07, SD = 0.41). Los análisis de ecuaciones estructurales mostró que los niveles más altos de conciencia y la extraversión y neuroticismo menor contribuyeron a una mayor auto-eficacia. Por el contrario, los niveles más altos de conciencia y neuroticismo y extraversión baja contribuyeron a las expectativas de resultados superiores. Estos hallazgos amplían nuestra comprensión respecto a las características de personalidad que actúa como antecedentes de las expectativas de autoeficacia y de resultados y establece importantes implicaciones para las intervenciones de la carrera con los adolescentes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

    Dikla Brown & Rachel Gali Cinamon

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  1. Dikla Brown
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Correspondence to Dikla Brown or Rachel Gali Cinamon.

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Brown, D., Cinamon, R.G. Personality traits’ effects on self-efficacy and outcome expectations for high school major choice. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 16, 343–361 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-015-9316-4

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