The Neurotic Dimension of Vocational Indecision: Gender Comparability?

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between neuroticism and career indecision in separate samples of men and women. College students (151 men, 183 women) constituted the samples. Career indecision was measured by the Career Decision Profile (CDP; Jones, 1989). Constructs used in the study that assess neuroticism included perceived stress, positive and negative affectivity, and state-trait anxiety. In addition, five life history factors predictive of vocational decision-making were also included. Separate cluster analyses were performed for each sample, resulting in two 2-cluster solutions. The first, the maladaptive clusters (high in stress, anxiety, and negative affectivity), emerged for both genders. The second clusters did not replicate across gender. Women in the second cluster, who were well-adapted, exhibited strong academic and scientific interests. The second cluster for men, although exhibiting low stress and anxiety, did not have high scores on any career decision-making variables. The results are discussed in the context of gender differences and the neurotic dimension of career indecision.A recent review of career and vocational assessment by Spokane and Jacob (1996) described the current state of research on the construct of career indecision. Some of the most recent findings suggest that career indecision has two components: One pertains to a healthy and normal stage in the crystallization of preferences that involves being undecided; the other is characterized by a broader affliction involving neuroticism. This neuroticism manifests itself in anxiety over many facets of decision-making, including career choices. Recent research has examined the neurotic component of career indecision. Chartrand, Rose, Elliott, Marmarosh, and Caldwell (1993) tested three models of indecision. The major finding from the study was that neuroticism was strongly related to general problem solving confidence as well as to the affective antecedents of indecision. In a similar study, Meyer and Winer (1993) reported a direct relationship

The Validity of Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire in Croatia

“…The difficulties related to LI can be described as temporary or developmental indecisions and have been used to refer to the normative vocational development phase (Saka & Gati, 2007). Therefore, this type of difficulties could be resolved relatively easily for most adolescents (Meldahl & Muchinsky, 1997), and it reduces during the high school period (Babarović & Šverko, 2016). In contrast, the career indecisiveness that comes from emotionality and other personality-related sources are more chronic and pervasive, and therefore more problematic to deal with in the career counseling process (Saka & Gati, 2007).…”

Relation of Neuroticism and Negative Career Thoughts and Feelings to Lack of Information

“…Lounsbury, Tatum, Chambers, Owens, and Gibson (1999) also found that neuroticism was related to indecision. Meldahl and Muchinsky (1997) found that college students with greater negative affect had less knowledge about occupations and training and academic options than their nonneurotic peers. Similarly, Kelly and Pulver (2002) found that neuroticism was related to lack of career information, career choice anxiety, and general indecisiveness.…”

Applying Social Cognitive Career Theory to the Empowerment of Battered Women

“…Abusers may prevent women from completing assignments, studying, and purchasing required educational materials. As experiences of negative emotions increase and job or academic performance and evaluations decline, battered women are likely to experience dissatisfaction (Chartrand, Rose, Elliott, Marmarosh, & Caldwell, 1993;Decker & Borgen, 1993;Meldahl & Muchinsky, 1997). Womenand their abusers-may attribute their poor performance to a lack of innate ability and become convinced that, despite their efforts, career and educational success is impossible.…”