Perceived Carrer Barriers and Suicidal Ideation among Adolescent School Dropouts

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the temporal changes in perceived career barriers and suicidal ideation and examine the impact of career barriers on suicidal ideation to establish practical guidelines for career development and psychological support required for adolescents’ development following their academic dropout. We used the data of 250 adolescents, who participated in the Adolescent School Dropouts Panel Survey, between 2014 and 2017. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and Amos 23.0 for computing descriptive statistics and a potential growth model for career barriers and suicidal ideation, respectively, among adolescent school dropouts. The analysis demonstrated a change in adolescent school dropouts’ perceptions of career barriers and suicidal ideation. Furthermore, adolescent school dropouts’ career barriers had a significant effect on suicidal ideation. These findings emphasize the need for an integrated approach to implement career support interventions for exploration and experience, alongside preventive measures to reduce the risk of suicide among adolescent school dropouts. Thus, the current study results prompt a discussion on the need to establish a social support system for adolescent school dropouts and their healthy integration into the society and provide future research recommendations.