Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Floundering or Experimenting: Finding a Vocational Home

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Emerging and Young Adulthood

Part of the book series: Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development ((ARAD))

Abstract

When are emerging and young adults immersed in positive self-exploration versus mired in anxious avoidance that leads to paralysis? And in the latter case, what can be done? Challenging job market conditions in the context of seemingly limitless career options have helped to create an environment that increases the likelihood of postponement of career choice. Distinctions are made between doers and reflectors, with consideration of the role of reflection in career choice. Floundering versus experimentation approaches are outlined, and the causes of the former are examined. A career indecision model is presented to assist in understanding career indecision. The hazards of perfectionism and optimization of choice are discussed in the context of current market forces, all of which help to demonstrate the complexity that emerging and young adults are encountering in their search for a meaningful and purpose-driven career future.

I am still hoping lightning will hit in the middle of the night and it will come to me as an epiphany. … I can still go anywhere right now. …However, it is also difficult to make a decision given all these options. [I feel so stuck].

Brad, a 27-year-old emerging adult .

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ariely, D. (2008). Predictably irrational: The hidden forces that shape our decisions. New York: Harper Collins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnett, J. J. (2000). High hopes in a grim world: Emerging adults’ views of their futures and “Generation X”. Youth and Society, 31(3), 267–286. doi:10.1177/0044118X00031003001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnett, J. (2004). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashby, J. S., & Rice, K. G. (2002). Perfectionism, dysfunctional attitudes, and self-esteem: A structural equation analysis. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80, 197–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bazyk, S. (2005). Exploring the development of meaningful work for children and youth in Western contexts. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation, 24(1), 11–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becchetti, L., Elena, G., & Pelloni, A. (2010). The relationship between social leisure and life satisfaction. Department of Communication, Working Papers, 63, University of Teramo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, F., & Magnusson, J. (2007). Physical activity as eisure: The meaning of physical activity for the health and well-being of adolescent women. Health Care for Women International, 28(1), 69–87. doi:10.1080/07399330601003499.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell, L. L. (2005). Leisure and health: Why is leisure therapeutic? British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 33(1), 7–26. doi:10.1080/03069880412331335939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carstensen, L. L., Turan, B., Scheibe, S., Ram, N., Ersner-Hershfield, H., Samanez-Larkin, G. R., Brooks, K. P., & Nesselroade, J. R. (2011). Emotional experience improves with age: Evidence based on over 10 years of experience sampling. Psychology and Aging, 26(1), 21–33. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0021285.

  • Celen-Demirtas, S., Konstam,V., & Tomek, S. (2014). Leisure activities in unemployed emerging adults: Links to career adaptability and subjective well being. Manuscript submitted for publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creed, P. A., & Hughes, T. (2012). Career development strategies as moderators between career compromise and career outcomes in emerging adults. Journal of Career Development, 40(2), 146–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiBartolo, P. M., Li, C. Y., & Frost, R. O. (2008). How do the dimensions of perfectionism relate to mental health? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 32, 401–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Group for Integrated Social Research. (2001). Misleading trajectories: Transition dilemmas of young adults in Europe. Journal of Youth Studies, 4, 101–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, D. C. (2003). The antecedents and consequences of early career indecision among young adults. Human Resource Management Review, 13, 499–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, R. O., Marten, P., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14, 449–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganske, K. H., & Ashby, J. S. (2007). Perfectionism and career decision-making self-efficacy. Journal of Employment Counseling, 44, 17–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gati, I., Krausz, M., & Osipow, S. H. (1996). A taxonomy of difficulties in career decision-making. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43, 510–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guichard, J., Pouyard, J., de Calan, C., & Dumora, B. (2012). Identity construction and career development interventions with emerging adults. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 81, 52–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, S. F., & Hamilton, M. A. (2006). School, work, and emerging adulthood. In J. J. Arnett & J. L. Tanner (Eds.), Emerging adults in America, coming of age in the 21st century (pp. 257–277). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Han, J., & Patterson, I. (2007). An analysis of the influence that leisure experiences have on a person’s mood state, health and wellbeing. Annals of Leisure Research, 10(3–4), 328–351. doi:10.1080/11745398.2007.9686770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwasaki, Y. (2001). Contributions of leisure to coping with daily hassles in university students’ lives. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 33(2), 128–141. doi:10.1037/h0087135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwasaki, Y., & Mannell, R. C. (2000). Hierarchical dimensions of leisure stress coping. Leisure Sciences: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 22(3), 163–181. doi:10.1080/01490409950121843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jahoda, M. (1981). Work, employment, and unemployment: Values, theories, and approaches in social research. American Psychologist, 36, 184–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Konstam, V. (2013). Parenting your emerging adult: Launching kids from 18 to 29. New Jersey: New Horizon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konstam, V., & Lehmann, I. S. (2010). Emerging adults at work and at play: Leisure, work engagement, and career indecision. Journal of Career Assessment, 19(2), 151–164. doi:10.1177/1069072710385546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Konstam, V., Tomek, S., Celen-Demiritas, S., & Sweeney, K. (2014). Volunteering and employment status in unemployed adults: A time-worthy investment? Journal of Career Assessment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuwabara, S. A., Van Voorhees, B. W., Gollan, J. K., & Alexander, G. C. (2007). A qualitative exploration of depression in emerging adulthood: Disorder, development, and social context. General Hospital Psychiatry, 29(4), 317–324.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann, I., & Konstam, V. (2011). Growing up perfect: Perfectionism, problematic internet use, and career indecision in emerging adults. Journal of Counseling and Development, 89(2), 155–162. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2011.tb00073.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKee-Ryan, F., Song, Z., Wanberg, C. R., & Kinicki, A. J. (2005). Psychological and physical well-being during unemployment: A meta-analytic study. Journal of Applied Psychology, 90(1), 53–76. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.90.1.53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Page, J., Monroe, A., Bruch, M. A., & Haase, R. F. (2008). Role of perfectionism and five-factor model traits in career indecision. Personality and Individual Differences, 45(8), 811–815.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, H., Twenge, J. M., & Greenfield, P. M. (2014). The great recession: Implications for adolescent values and behavior. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5(3), 310–318. doi:10.1177/1948550613495419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Passmore, A. (1998). Does leisure support and underpin adolescents’ developing worker role? Journal of Occupational Science, 5(3), 161–165. doi:10.1080/14427591.1998.9686445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Passmore, A. (2003). The occupation of leisure: Three typologies and their influence on mental health in adolescence. OTJR: Occupation: Participation, and Health, 23, 76–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Passmore, A., & French, D. (2000). A model of leisure and mental health in Australian adolescents. Behavior Change, 17, 208–221. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1375/bech.17.3.208.

  • Paul, K. I., & Moser, K. (2009). Unemployment impairs mental health: Meta-analyses. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 74(3), 264–282. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.01.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salamone, P. R., & Mangicaro, L. L. (1991). Difficult cases in career counseling: IV—floundering and occupational moratorium. The Career Development Quarterly, 39(4), 325–336. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.1991.tb00300.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg, S. (2013). Lean in: Women, work, and the will to lead. New York, NY: Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savickas, M. L. (1997). Career adaptability: An integrative construct for life-span, life-space theory. The Career Development Quarterly, 45(3), 247–259. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.1997.tb00469.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savickas, M. L. (2005). Career construction theory and practice. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Counseling Association, Atlanta, GA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sekiguchi, T. (2013, August 30). CEOS Wanted, Only NEETS Need Apply. The Wall Street Journal, World. Retrieved from http://stream.wsj.com/story/latest-headlines/SS-2-63399/SS-2-312701/

  • Shulman, S., Blatt, S. J., & Feldman, B. (2006). Vicissitudes of the impetus for growth and change among emerging adults. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 23, 159–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slaney, R. B., Ashby, J. S., & Trippi, J. (1995). Perfectionism: Its measurement and career relevance. Journal of Career Assessment, 3, 279–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone, A. A., Schwartz, J. E., Broderick, J. E., & Deaton, A. (2010). A snapshot of the age distribution of psychological well-being in the United States. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(22), 9985–9990. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1003744107.

  • Super, D. E. (1957). The psychology of careers. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trainor, S., Delfabbro, P., Anderson, S., & Winefield, A. (2010). Leisure activities and adolescent psychological well-being. Journal of Adolescence, 33(1), 173–186.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012). Employee tenure summary. (USDL Publication No.12-1887). Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm

  • U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2013). The unemployment situation (USDL Publication No. 13-1102). Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_06072013.pdf

  • Vignoles, V. L., Regalia, C., Manzi, C., Golledge, J., & Scabini, E. (2006). Beyond self-esteem: Influence of multiple motives on identity construction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(2), 308.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waters, L. E., & Moore, K. A. (2002). Reducing latent deprivation during unemployment: The role of meaningful leisure activity. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 75(1), 15–32. doi:10.1348/096317902167621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winefield, A. H., Tiggemann, M., & Winefield, H. R. (1992). Spare time use and psychological well-being in employed and unemployed young people. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 65(4), 307–313. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8325.1992.tb00507.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woods, G. (2005, December 29). Generation gap: In aging Japan, Young slackers stir concerns; Changing attitudes prompt people to quit job search; A demographic time bomb; Mr. Isozaki’s lack of urgency. Wall Street Journal, A1.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Varda Konstam

Authors
  1. Varda Konstam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Varda Konstam .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Konstam, V. (2015). Floundering or Experimenting: Finding a Vocational Home. In: Emerging and Young Adulthood. Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11301-2_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation