Abstract
We tested the associations among the career decision-making difficulties, the career decision status, and either (a) the career decision-making profiles of 575 young adults, or (b) the coping strategies of 379 young adults. As hypothesized, a more advanced decision status was negatively associated with both career decision-making difficulties (η2 = .24) and the use of non-productive coping strategies (η2 = .10), and positively associated with an adaptive career decision-making profile (η2 = .05) and the use of support-seeking coping strategies (η2 = .06). Productive coping strategies were not found to be associated with decision status (η2 = .01). The results and their implications are discussed.
Résumé
L’avancement dans le processus de décision de carrière : Le rôle des stratégies de coping et des profils de décision de carrière. Nous avons testé les associations entre les difficultés au choix professionnel, le statut du choix professionnel et, d’une part, (a) les profils de décision de carrière de 575 jeunes adultes, et, d’autre part, (b) les stratégies de coping de 379 jeunes adultes. Comme notre hypothèse l’indiquait, un statut de choix plus avancé était associé négativement aux difficultés liées aux choix de carrière (η2 = .24) ainsi qu’à l’utilisation non-productive de stratégies de coping (η2 = .10). Celui-ci était cependant associé positivement avec un profil de décision de carrière adaptatif (η2 = .05) et l’utilisation de stratégies de coping efficaces (η2 = .06). Les stratégies de coping efficaces n’étaient pas associées avec le statut du choix (η2 = .01). Les résultats et leurs implications sont discutés.
Zusammenfassung
Im Karriere-Entscheidungsprozess vorankommen: Die Rolle von Bewältigungsstrategien und Karriere-Entscheidungsprofilen. Wir haben die Beziehung zwischen Karriere-Entscheidungsschwierigkeiten, dem Karriere-Entscheidungsstatus und entweder (a) den Karriere-Entscheidungsprofilen von 575 jungen Erwachsenen, oder (b) den Bewältigungsstrategien von 379 jungen Erwachsenen untersucht. Wie erwartet, hing ein fortgeschrittener Karriere-Entscheidungsstatus negativ mit Karriere- Entscheidungsschwierigkeiten (η2 = .24) und dem Gebrauch von nicht-produktiven Bewältigungsstrategien (η2 = .10) und positiv mit adaptiven Karriere-Entscheidungsprofilen (η2 = .05) und dem Gebrauch von Unterstützung-suchenden Bewältigungsstrategien (η2 = .06) zusammen. Produktive Bewältigungsstrategien hingen nicht mit dem Entscheidungsstatus zusammen (η2 = .01). Die Resultate und deren Implikationen werden diskutiert.
Resumen
Avanzando en el proceso de toma de decisiones para la carrera: El papel de las estrategias de copia y los perfiles en la toma de decisiones para la carrera. Se testaron las relaciones entre las dificultades en la toma de decisiones para la carrera, con el posicionamiento en la carrera, y ambas (a) con los perfiles en la toma de decisiones para la carrera en una muestra de 575 adultos jóvenes, o (b) con las estrategias de copia en una muestra de 379 adultos jóvenes. Se lanzan las siguientes hipótesis, un prematuro posicionamiento en la carrera correlaciona negativamente tanto con las dificultades en la toma de decisiones para la carrera (η2 = .24), como con las estrategias de copia no productivas (η2 = .10), y positivamente con un perfil de toma de decisiones adaptativo para la elección de carrera (η2 = .05), como con el uso de estrategias de copia basadas en la búsqueda (η2 = .06). No se encontraron relaciones entre las estrategias de copia productivas y los posicionamientos en la carrera. Finalmente se discuten los resultados y sus implicaciones.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amir, T., & Gati, I. (2006). Facets of career decision-making difficulties. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 34(4), 483–503. doi:10.1080/03069880600942608.
Bruine de Bruin, W., Parker, A. M., & Fischhoff, B. (2007). Individual differences in adult decision-making competence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(5), 938–956. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.92.5.938.
Campbell, R. E., & Cellini, J. V. (1981). A diagnostic taxonomy of adult career problems. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 19(2), 175–190. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(81)90057-9.
Chope, R. C. (2006). Family matters: The influence of family in career decision-making. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
Creed, P. A., Fallon, T., & Hood, M. (2009). The relationship between career adaptability, person and situation variables, and career concerns in young adults. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 74(2), 219–229. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2008.12.004.
Creed, P. A., & Yin, W. O. (2006). Reliability and validity of a Chinese version of the career decision-making difficulties Questionnaire. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 6(1), 47–63. doi:10.1007/s10775-006-0003-3.
Di Fabio, A., & Palazzeschi, L. (2012). Incremental variance of the core self-evaluation construct compared to fluid intelligence and personality traits in aspects of decision-making. Personality and Individual Differences, 53, 196–201. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2012.03.012.
Di Fabio, A., Palazzeschi, L., Asulin-Peretz, L., & Gati, I. (2013). Career indecision versus indecisiveness: Associations with personality traits and emotional intelligence. Journal of Career Assessment, 21(1), 42–56. doi:10.1177/1069072712454698.
Di Fabio, A., Palazzeschi, L., & Bar-On, R. (2012). The role of personality traits, core self-evaluation and emotional intelligence in career decision-making difficulties. Journal of Employment Counseling, 49, 118–129. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1920.2012.00012.x.
Frydenberg, E., & Lewis, R. (1993). Adolescent coping scale. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Gadassi, R., Gati, I., & Dayan, A. (2012). The adaptability of career decision-making profiles. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59(4), 612–622. doi:10.1037/a0029155.
Gadassi, R., Gati, I., & Wagman-Rolnick, H. (2013). The adaptability of career decision-making profiles: Associations with self-efficacy, emotional difficulties, and decision status. Journal of Career Development, 40(6), 490–507. doi:10.1177/0894845312470027.
Gati, I. (1986). Making career decisions: A sequential elimination approach. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 33, 408–417. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.33.4.408.
Gati, I., & Asher, I. (2001). The PIC model for career decision making: Prescreening, in-depth exploration, and choice. In F. T. Leong & A. Barak (Eds.), Contemporary models in vocational psychology (pp. 7–54). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Gati, I., Gadassi, R., & Mashiah-Cohen, R. (2012). Career decision-making profiles vs. styles: Convergent and incremental validity. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 81, 2–16. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2012.03.004.
Gati, I., Gadassi, R., Saka, N., Hadadi, Y., Ansenberg, N., Friedmann, R., & Asulin-Peretz, L. (2011). Emotional and personality-related aspects of career decision-making difficulties: Facets of career indecisiveness. Journal of Career Assessment, 19(1), 3–20. doi:10.1177/1069072710382525.
Gati, I., Kleiman, T., Saka, N., & Zakai, A. (2003). Perceived benefits of using an internet-based interactive career planning system. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 62(2), 272–286. doi:10.1016/S0001-8791(02)00049-0.
Gati, I., Krausz, M., & Osipow, S. H. (1996). A taxonomy of difficulties in career decision making. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43, 510–526. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.43.4.510.
Gati, I., Landman, S., Davidovitch, S., Asulin-Peretz, L., & Gadassi, R. (2010). From career decision-making styles to career decision-making profiles: A multidimensional approach. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 76, 277–291. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.11.001.
Gati, I., & Levin, N. (2012). The stability and structure of career decision-making profiles: A 1-year follow-up. Journal of Career Assessment, 20, 390–403. doi:10.1177/1069072712448892.
Gati, I., Osipow, S. H., Krausz, M., & Saka, N. (2000). Validity of the career decision-making difficulties questionnaire: Counselee versus career counselor perceptions. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 56, 99–113. doi:10.1006/jvbe.1999.1710.
Gati, I., Ryzhik, T., & Vertsberger, D. (2013). Preparing young veterans for civilian life: The effects of a workshop on career decision-making difficulties and self-efficacy. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 83, 373–385. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2013.06.001.
Gati, I., & Saka, N. (2001). Internet-based versus paper-and-pencil assessment: Measuring . Journal of Career Assessment, 9, 397–416. doi:10.1177/106907270100900406.
Gati, I., Saka, N., & Krausz, M. (2001). “Should I use a computer-assisted career guidance system?” It depends on where your career decision-making difficulties lie. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 29, 301–321. doi:10.1080/03069880120073021.
Gati, I., & Tal, S. (2008). Decision-making models and career guidance. In J. Athanasou & R. Van Esbroeck (Eds.), International handbook of career guidance (pp. 157–185). Berlin: Springer.
Harren, V. A. (1979). A model of career decision making for college students. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 14, 119–133. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(79)90065-4.
Katz, M. (1966). A model of guidance for career decision-making. Vocational Guidance Quarterly, 15, 2–10. doi:10.1002/j.2164-585X.1966.tb01148.x.
Kelly, K. R., & Lee, W. C. (2002). Mapping the domain of career decision problems. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61, 302–326. doi:10.1006/jvbe.2001.1858.
Kleiman, T., Gati, I., Peterson, G., Sampson, J., Reardon, R., & Lenz, J. (2004). Dysfunctional thinking and difficulties in career decision making. Journal of Career Assessment, 12, 213–331. doi:10.1177/1069072704266673.
Ladany, N., Melincoff, D. S., Constansine, M. G., & Love, R. (1997). At-risk urban high school students’ commitment to career choices. Journal of Counseling & Development, 76(1), 45–52. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1997.tb02375.x.
Lent, R. W., & Brown, S. D. (2013). Social cognitive model of career self-management: Toward a unifying view of adaptive career behavior across the life span. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60, 557–568. doi:10.1037/a0033446.
Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45, 79–122. doi:10.1006/jvbe.1994.1027.
Levin, N., & Gati, I. (2015). Facilitating the transition from school to work with a career decision-making approach: Process-related assessments and the PIC model. Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, 30, 127–143.
Lipshits-Braziler, Y., Gati, I., & Tatar, M. (2015). Strategies for coping with career indecision: Concurrent and predictive validity. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 91, 170–179. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2015.10.004.
Lipshits-Braziler, Y., Gati, I., & Tatar, M. (2016a). Strategies for coping with career indecision. Journal of Career Assessment., 24(1), 42–66. doi:10.1177/1069072714566795.
Lipshits-Braziler, Y., Gati, I., & Tatar, M. (2016b). Strategies for coping with career indecision: Convergent, divergent, and incremental validity. Journal of Career Assessment,. doi:10.1177/1069072715620608.
Loughead, T. A., Liu, S. H., & Middleton, E. B. (1995). Career development for at-risk youth: A program evaluation. The Career Development Quarterly, 43(3), 274–284. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.1995.tb00868.x.
Mau, W. C. (2001). Assessing career decision-making difficulties: A cross-cultural study. Journal of Career Assessment, 9, 353–364. doi:10.1177/106907270100900403.
McWhirter, J. J., McWhirter, B. T., McWhirter, A. M., & McWhirter, E. H. (1995). Youth at risk: Another point of view. Journal of Counseling & Development, 73(5), 567–569. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1995.tb01796.x.
Monahan, C. J. (1987). Construct validation of a modified differentiation index. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 30(3), 217–226. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(87)90001-7.
Osipow, S. H. (1999). Assessing career indecision. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 55, 147–154. doi:10.1006/jvbe.1999.1704.
Osipow, S. H., Carney, C. G., & Barak, A. (1976). A scale of educational-vocational undecidedness: A typological approach. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 9(2), 233–243. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(76)90081-6.
Osipow, S. H., & Gati, I. (1998). Construct and concurrent validity of the career decision-making difficulties questionnaire. Journal of Career Assessment, 6, 347–364. doi:10.1177/106907279800600305.
Osipow, S. H., & Winer, J. L. (1996). The use of the career decision scale in career assessment. Journal of Career Assessment, 4(2), 117–130. doi:10.1177/106907279600400201.
Pitz, G. F., & Harren, V. A. (1980). An analysis of career decision making from the point of view of information processing and decision theory. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 16, 320–346. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(80)90059-7.
Saka, N., & Gati, I. (2007). Emotional and personality-related aspects of persistent career decision-making difficulties. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 71, 340–358. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2007.08.003.
Sauermann, H. (2005). Vocational choice: A decision making perspective. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66(2), 273–303. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2004.10.001.
Savickas, M. L. (1997). Career adaptability: An integrative construct for life-span, life-space theory. Career Development Quarterly, 45, 247–259. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.1997.tb00469.x.
Savickas, M. L. (2013). Career construction theory and practice. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work (2nd ed., pp. 147–183). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Skinner, E. A., Edge, K., Altman, J., & Sherwood, H. (2003). Searching for the structure of coping: A review and critique of category systems for classifying ways of coping. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 216–269. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.129.2.216.
Slaney, R. B. (1980). Expressed vocational choice and vocational indecision. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 27, 122–129. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.27.2.122.
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(1), 63–81. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(83)90006-4.
Thompson, M. N., & Subich, L. M. (2006). The relation of social status to the career decision-making process. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 69(2), 289–301. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2006.04.008
Tinsley, H. E. (1992). Career decision making and career indecision. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 41, 209–211. doi:10.1016/0001-8791(92)90022-R.
Willner, T., Gati, I., & Guan, Y. (2015). Career decision-making profiles and career decision-making difficulties: A cross-cultural comparison among US, Israeli, and Chinese samples. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 88, 143–153. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2015.03.007.
Yitzhaki, S., Golan, Y. & Tur-Sinai, A. (2013). Municipal authorities ranking by the Socio-Economic Index (Working paper 77). Jerusalem, Israel: Central Bureau of Statistics (in Hebrew).
Zener, T. B., & Schnuelle, L. (1976). Effects of the self-directed search on high school students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 23, 353–359. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.23.4.353.
Acknowledgements
We thank Ella Anghel, Naomi Goldblum, Shahar Hechtlinger, Nimrod Levin, Yuliya Lipshits-Braziler, Zehava Masuri, Dana Vertsberger, Davida Vogel, and Tirza Willner, for their comments on previous versions of this paper. This research was supported in part by the Gruss Foundation and by the Samuel and Esther Melton Chair of the second author.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Perez, M., Gati, I. Advancing in the career decision-making process: the role of coping strategies and career decision-making profiles. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 17, 285–309 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-016-9334-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-016-9334-x