Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Associations between social support, career self-efficacy, and career indecision among youth

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous research suggests that social support affects both career self-efficacy and career decision-making status. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between social support and career indecision and the role that career self-efficacy plays in this relationship. A series of validated measures assessing social support, career self-efficacy, and career indecision were administrated to 700 Kosovar youth (mean age = 18.1 years, 57% women and 42.9% men). The findings revealed that social support was significantly negatively correlated with career indecision. The study results also indicated that social support was indirectly correlated with career indecision, as career self-efficacy played a mediating role in this relationship. The findings provide useful insight into the links between social support, career self-efficacy, and career decision making. Therefore, these results provide a foundation for the development of interventions for adolescents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison, Ch. & Cossette, M. (2007). Three theories of career development and choice. WA: Edmonds Community College.

  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Constantine, M. G., Wallace, B. C., & Kindaichi, M. M. (2005). Examining contextual factors in the career decision status of African American adolescents. Journal of Career Assessment, 13(3), 307–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diemer, M. A. (2007). Parental and school influences upon the career development of poor youth of color. Journal of Vocational Behaviour, 70, 242–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felsman, D. E., & Blustein, D. L. (1999). The role of peer relatedness in late adolescent career development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 54, 279–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferry, N. M. (2006). Factors influencing career choice of adolescents and young adults in rural Pennsylvania. Journal of Extension, 44(3).

  • Ferry, T. R., Fouad, N. A., & Smith, P. L. (2000). The role of family context in social-cognitive model for career related choice behaviour: A math and science perspective. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 57, 348–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, T. A., & Padmawidjaja, I. (1999). Parental influences on career development perceived by African-American & Mexican-American college students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 27, 136–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, A. F. (2012). PROCESS: A versatile computational tool for observed variable mediation, moderation, and conditional process modeling [White paper]. Retrieved from http://www.afhayes.com/public/process2012.pdf.

  • Hayes, A. F. (2018). Partial, conditional, and moderated moderated mediation: Quantification, inference, and interpretation. Communication Monographs, 85, 4–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herr, E. L., & Lear, P. B. (1984). The family as an influence on career development. Family Therapy Collections, 10, 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jemini-Gashi, L. (2010). Factors influencing Kosovar adolescents' decision making for selection of profession [abstract]. Alb Science.

  • Jemini-Gashi, L. (2012). Career maturity and decision making of Kosovo adolescents for choice of profession. Announcements from the scientific conference “Science Week.” MEST.

  • Jemini-Gashi, L. (2013a). Psychosocial factors influencing the career decision making process among Kosovar adolescents. Scientific bulletin no. 1 (VII). The University of Tirana. ISSN 2227-7781. Retrieved from: http://www.planetar.edu.al/docs/buletini-7.pdf.

  • Jemini-Gashi, L. (2013b). Contextual factors, self-efficacy and career decision status of Kosovar adolescents. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Thought, 3(3).

  • Jemini-Gashi, L. (2014). Factors influencing the career decision making among Kosovar adolescents (Dissertation). Retrieved from: http://www.doktoratura.unitir.edu.al/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Doktoratura-Liridona-Jemini-Gashi-Fakulteti-i-Shkencave-Sociale-Departamenti-i-Psikologji-Pedagogjise.pdf.

  • June-Schapeler Bergen, R. (2006). Family influences on young adult career development and aspirations (unpublished dissertation). University of North Texas.

  • Kelly, K. R., & Lee, W. C. (2002). Mapping the domain of career decision problems. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61, 302–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Köhler, H. & Burghard, J. (2011). Draft strategy and action plan for orientation and career counseling 2013–2016.

  • Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45, 79–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., Nota, L., & Soresi, S. (2003). Testing social cognitive interest and choice hypotheses across Holland types in Italian high school students. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 62(1), 101-118.

  • Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1996). Career development from a social cognitive perspective. In D. Brown & L. Brooks (Eds.), Career: Choice and development (3rd ed., pp. 373–422). San Francisco: Jossey Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (2000). Contextual supports and barriers to career choice: A social cognitive analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47, 36–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewko, J. H. (1994). The evaluation of career indecision in career development. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 28, 281–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • MEST. (2011). Kosovo Education Strategic Plan 2011 - 2016. 25 “Draft Strategy and Action Plan for Career Orientation and Counseling 2013-2016. MEST, p. 34.

  • Nota, L., Ferrari, L., Solberg, V. S. H., & Soresi, S. (2007). Career search self-efficacy, family support, and career indecision with Italian youth. Journal of Career Assessment, 15(2), 181–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osipow, H. S., & Winer, L. J. (1996). The use of the career decision scale in career assessment. Journal of Career Assessment, 4(2), 117–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osipow, C., Carney, W., Yanico, K. (1976). Career decision scale. PA: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.

  • Palo, R., & Drobot, L. (2010). The impact of family influence on the career choice of adolescents. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 3407–3411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, K. M., & Betz, N. E. (1983). Applications of self-efficacy theory to the understanding and treatment of career indecision. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 22, 63–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, J. B., & Betz, N. E. (2004). The relationship of attachment variables to career decision‐making self‐efficacy and fear of commitment. The Career Development Quarterly, 52(4), 363-369.

Download references

Acknowledgments

L.J.G conceived of the presented idea. L.J.G, Z.H.D and K.K developed further the idea, conducted the research, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. L.J.G supervised the findings and the overall work. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Prishtina Hasan Prishtina, Mother Teresa Street, n.n. 10 000, Prishtinë, Kosovo

    Liridona Jemini-Gashi, Zamira Hyseni Duraku & Kaltrina Kelmendi

Authors
  1. Liridona Jemini-Gashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zamira Hyseni Duraku
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kaltrina Kelmendi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zamira Hyseni Duraku.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Ethical Approval

All procedures in the study were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jemini-Gashi, L., Duraku, Z.H. & Kelmendi, K. Associations between social support, career self-efficacy, and career indecision among youth. Curr Psychol 40, 4691–4697 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00402-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00402-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation