Indecisiveness and career indecision: A test of a theoretical model

Abstract

Research on career indecision has emphasized the need to distinguish between normative indecision, which corresponds to a developmentally-appropriate state, and indecisiveness, a persistent problem in making decisions across multiple dimensions. This distinction is important in order to design appropriate interventions. These two types of indecision are related with two dimensions (decidedundecided and decisiveness-indecisiveness) that, if conceptualized as orthogonal, result in a diagnostic scheme with four groups (high or low in career decidedness and high or low in indecisiveness). The aim of this study was to test whether the four groups could be distinguished from each other with regard to cognitive and affective variables that have been used in career indecision research. A descriptive discriminant analysis was employed with a sample of secondary school students. The grouping variable effects of two significant functions are described and implications for career counseling and future research are discussed.

Career indecision and career exploration among older French adolescents: The specific role of general trait anxiety and future school and career anxiety

“…Some undecided adolescents who have a high degree of trait anxiety probably also exhibit an elevated level of indecisiveness associated with interpersonal, identity, and personality problems (e.g. Santos et al, 2014). Counseling sessions may help adolescents overcome their personal problems before dealing with career indecision.…”

“…Campagna & Curtis, 2007;Di Fabio, Palazzeschi, Levin, & Gati, 2015;Fuqua et al, 1988;Saunders, Peterson, Sampson, and Reardon, (2000). General trait anxiety is a component of career indecisiveness or persistent career decision-making difficulties (Saka & Gati, 2007;Santos, 2001;Santos, Ferreira, & Gonçalves, 2014). In addition, career decisionmaking problems and career indecisiveness were positively related in some studies (e.g.…”

“…Some indecisive persons remain in a state of career indecision (Santos et al, 2014). These persons show a psychological profile characterized by a high level of trait anxiety (Bacanli, 2006;Kounenou, 2013;Saka & Gati, 2007;Santos & Ferreira, 2012;Santos et al, 2014) accompanied by a high degree of external control, a poorly developed vocational identity, and low self-esteem. In the present study, some of the adolescents who had an elevated degree of trait anxiety may have remained in a state of career indecision because they were highly indecisive.…”

Maturidade psicológica e independência financeira: um estudo com adultos emergentes universitários || Psychological maturity and financial independence: A study with college emerging adults

“…A vivência no ensino superior é para muitos jovens, uma etapa de transformação das atitudes em relação aos futuros papéis de adulto (por exemplo, profissional, familiar, de cidadão, entre outros), sendo um período de ensaios de estilos de vida que deverá proporcionando-lhe uma abertura de perspetivas face aos mesmos (Andrade, 2006;Gómez-Juncal, Dopico, García, & Varela, 2015;Ferreira, Almeida, & Soares, 2001;Santos, Ferreira, & Gonçalves, 2014). Deste modo, a frequência do ensino superior acaba por ser uma etapa do ciclo de vida que corresponde, em termos desenvolvimentais, à passagem da adolescência para a idade adulta, onde ocorrem transições traduzidas no desenvolvimento, realização e consolidação da identidade pessoal e social do sujeito (Almeida, Santos, Dias, Botelho, & Ramalho, 1998;Almeida, Soares, & Freitas, 2004)., que culminarão com a aquisição do estatuto social de adulto (Andrade, 2006;Dias & Sá, 2011).…”

Dimensionality of Career Indecision: Methodological Perspectives

“…After reviewing the scales, it appears that they can be classified into two types: (1) chiefly constructed to measure the career indecision component (e.g., Osipow, 1999;Sampson et al, 1999;Shimizu & Hanai, 2007), and (2) intentionally constructed to separately assess the career indecisiveness component (e.g., Chartrand et al, 1990;Frost & Shows, 1993;Gati et al, 1996;Van Matre & Cooper, 1984;Santos, Ferreira, & Gonçalves, 2014).…”