Decided and Undecided Students: Career Self-efficacy, Negative Thinking, and Decision-Making Difficulties

Abstract

At a southeastern university, 226 undergraduate students completed measures of career decidedness, career self-efficacy, degree of dysfunctional career thinking, and career decision difficulty. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the career-undecided students reported lower levels of career decision-making self-efficacy, higher levels of negative career thinking, and greater decision-making difficulties than did the career-decided students. Advisers working with career-undecided students should strive to enhance their self-efficacy by collaborating with them to attain small, accomplishable goals. (45 ref)-

Preferences in Senior High School Tracks of the Grade 10 Students

“…Decision-making, negative thinking and career difficulties indicate undecidedness of a student [7]. In order for students to make a better decision, one can consider interest and intellectual ability [8]; interest in the subject, relationship with peers, members of the family and teachers, and by assessment and research in the internet and other sources before making the decision [29].…”

“…To mention, money and average grade quota restrictions as potential obstruction of decision-making and major changers of desired career among students because it prohibited students to enrol from entering the productive field. undecided students are affected by the differences in institutional practices, policies, and attitudes [5].Students should not be in a permanent status of undecideness [6] [7]. Misfit of choosing a career may result in unemployment and underemployment [8].…”

Integrating Academic and Career Advising toward Student Success

“…For undecided students, the career exploration process often brings with it a tremendous amount of anxiety and doubt. Many undecided students who enter college lack career maturity and self‐awareness in their own interests, skills, and values (Bullock‐Yowell, McConnell, & Schedin, ). Additionally, these students may lack knowledge about the world of work and its many career options.…”

High School Students' Career Decision-making Difficulties According to Locus of Control

“…The support that they perceive from the family of adolescents, their friends, the environment [33], devotion to the family and friendship [42] affects their decision making processes. Various studies show that career decision making difficulties are related to environmental and individual characteristics such as negative beliefs related to choice of education [2,5], five factor personality traits [12], emotional and personality traits [37], self-efficacy perception [29], parental styles [43], emotional intelligence [11], psychological stability [41].…”