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Family influence on undergraduates’ career choice implementation

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Abstract

This study examined the influence of family on career choice implementation, assuming that implementation can be assessed through goal progress and satisfaction, and that family influences the latter through perceived environmental supports or barriers and self-efficacy. Three hundred and twenty-three college students completed measures of family’ values and beliefs, expectations, financial and informational support, and of students’ perceived environmental support and barriers, academic self-efficacy, goal progress, and satisfaction. Path analysis results indicated that family values, expectations, and supports indirectly influence students’ choice implementation through supports and barriers and self-efficacy. Such influences should be considered in career interventions.

Résumé

L’influence de la famille sur la mise en œuvre du choix de carrière des étudiant·e·s prégradué·e·s Cette étude a examiné l’influence de la famille sur la mise en œuvre du choix de carrière, en supposant que celle-ci puisse être évaluée par la progression des objectifs et la satisfaction, et que la famille influence ces dernières par le biais des soutiens ou obstacles environnementaux perçus et de l’auto-efficacité. Trois cent vingt-trois étudiant·e·s de l’université ont évalué les valeurs et les croyances de la famille, ses attentes, son soutien financier et informationnel, ainsi que le soutien et les obstacles environnementaux perçus, l’auto-efficacité scolaire, la progression des objectifs et la satisfaction des étudiant·e·s. Les résultats de l’analyse des relations structurelles ont indiqué que les valeurs, les attentes et les soutiens familiaux influencent indirectement la mise en œuvre des choix des étudiant·e·s par le biais des soutiens et des obstacles et de l’auto-efficacité. Ces influences devraient être prises en compte dans les interventions liées à la carrière.

Zusammenfassung

Einfluss der Familie auf die Umsetzung der Laufbahnentscheidung von Studierenden In dieser Studie wurde der Einfluss der Familie auf die Umsetzung der Laufbahnentscheidung untersucht, wobei davon ausgegangen wurde, dass die Umsetzung durch die Zielerreichungsfortschritte und die Zufriedenheit gemessen werden kann und dass die Familie letztere durch die aus der Umwelt wahrgenommene Unterstützung, Barrieren und die Selbstwirksamkeit beeinflusst wird. 323 College-Studenten haben Fragebogen zu familiären Werten und Überzeugungen, zu Erwartungen, zur finanziellen und informationsbezogenen Unterstützung sowie zu der von den Studierenden wahrgenommenen Unterstützung und den Barrieren in der Umwelt, zur akademischen Selbstwirksamkeit, dem Zielerreichungsschritt und der Zufriedenheit ausgefüllt. Die Ergebnisse von Pfadanalysen wiesen darauf hin, dass die familiären Werte, Erwartungen und die wahrgenommene Unterstützung die Umsetzung der Laufbahnentscheidung indirekt beeinflussen. Solche Einflüsse sollten bei Karriereinterventionen berücksichtigt werden.

Resumen

La Influencia Familiar en la Toma de Decisiones Profesionales de los Estudiantes Universitarios Este estudio examinó la influencia de la familia en la toma de decisiones profesionales, asumiendo que la forma que se lleva a cabo se puede evaluar a través del progreso hacia las metas y la satisfacción con estas, y que la familia influye en la satisfacción a través de su percepción de los apoyos o las barreras ambientales y de la autoeficacia. Trescientos veintitrés estudiantes universitarios valoraron su percepción sobre los valores y creencias familiares, sus expectativas, el apoyo financiero e informativo, y la existencia de barreras y apoyos ambientales, la autoeficacia académica, el progreso hacia las metas y su satisfacción. Los resultados del análisis de rutas (path analysis) indicaron que los valores, expectativas y apoyos familiares influyen indirectamente en la toma de decisiones de los estudiantes a través de los apoyos, las barreras y la autoeficacia. Estas influencias deberían tenerse en cuenta en las intervenciones sobre desarrollo de la carrera.

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Acknowledgements

This study was conducted at Psychology Research Centre (Grant No. UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT202.

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  1. Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil

    Jaisso Vautero

  2. School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal

    Ana Daniela Silva & Maria do Céu Taveira

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Vautero, J., Silva, A.D. & do Céu Taveira, M. Family influence on undergraduates’ career choice implementation. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 21, 551–570 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-020-09453-0

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