Impact of parent‐child relationship on the career development process of high school students in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to investigate the relationships of parental attachment and psychological separation to the career development process of secondary school adolescents.Design/methodology/approachAn ex post facto survey research design was adopted. The sample comprised 242 (males=121, females=121) senior secondary school II students randomly selected. Parental attachment, psychological separation, and career development scales were administered on the students. The data collected were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis treating parental attachment and psychological separation as predictors and career development as a criterion variable. Parental attachment and psychological separation (mother scales) separately and significantly predicted career information‐seeking behaviour of participants. However, combined attachment and separation (father scale) could not significantly predict any of the career development variables.Research limitations/implicationsThe study utilised cross‐sectional and self‐report measures.Practical implicationsThe cultural environment and type of family in which the study was carried out should be considered. Counsellors in Nigeria should assess views of students' parents and peers on career development.Originality/valueMost previous studies have linked familial factors like parental educational, financial and modelling opportunities with career development. This study reported the relationship of parental attachment and psychological separation with the career development process. Results from this study may enlighten career counsellors, parents and students on the need to assess the relationship between the students and their parents when dealing with their career development problems.

Diversity in Unity: Perspectives from Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

“…In addition, the present study is also consistent with research conducted by Salami and Aremu (2007), which revealed that parental attachment is significantly related to career information-seeking behaviour, but, if measured separately, only attachment to the mother has a significant relationship. Participants in this study were grade 12 high school students who were faced with a career transition to college.…”

“…For instance, research conducted by Salami and Aremu (2007) reveals that attachment to the mother is significantly associated with career information-seeking behaviour, whereas attachment to the father is not. In their research about parental attachment and career maturity, Choi et al (2012) show that changes in the quality of parental attachment are positively correlated with changes in career maturity.…”

A Conceptual Model of Predicting the Effects of Motivational Factors on the Students’ Career Decisions to join Hospitality Industry in China

“…Chinese parents play a critical role in their children's decision points (Bai, 1998), and have a significant impact on their children's career behaviours, especially the first career choice (Salami & Oyesoji Aremu, 2007). However, few studies have been conducted into parental influences on HTM programme students' career decisions, apart from the work of Chak-keung Wong and Jin Liu (2010), already described.…”

“…Although a large number of studies have emphasized parental support having a positive and supportive effect on their children's career behaviour (Bai, 1998;Campbell & Uto, 1994;Salami & Oyesoji Aremu, 2007;Zhang et al, 2014), few have investigated parental hindering factors or barriers in the relationship with their children's career development. According to social cognitive theory (Rogers & Greed, 2011) positive parental support has a significant positive effect on a young person's career decisions.…”

“…Parental concern refers to worries about their children making wrong decisions about a certain behavior (Salami & Oyesoji Aremu, 2007), for several reasons: unsatisfactory working conditions, low salary, and low social status in the eyes of relatives and friends (Salami & Oyesoji Aremu, 2007). Zhang et al (2014) suggested that many Chinese parents' concern about their children's career choices prevents them from working or studying far away from home.…”