The Relation of Negative Career Thoughts to Depression and Hopelessness

Abstract

Although some research literature focuses on the integration of mental health and career counseling, there has been little that examines both areas in relation to depression and hopelessness. This study investigated the relationship among dysfunctional career thinking, depression, and hopelessness in a sample of 139 undergraduate and graduate students seeking drop‐in or individual career counseling services at a university career center. The authors found that two aspects of dysfunctional career thinking, decision‐making confusion and commitment anxiety, accounted for a significant amount of variance in depression. Decision‐making confusion also accounted for a significant amount of variance in hopelessness. Implications for counseling practice include the need for more careful screening of career clients who present with high levels of anxiety and negative thinking. Future research could involve more diverse client populations, such as unemployed adults, and explore the use of additional screening measures to assess the intersection of career and mental health issues.

Comparing Career Development Outcomes Among Undergraduate Students in Cognitive Information Processing Theory–Based Versus Human Relations Courses

“…CIP theory has been used in over 180 empirical studies (Sampson, Reardon, Peterson, & Lenz, 2019) and has been credited as the theory with “probably the most widely studied career interventions” (Brown, 2015, p. 62). Much research has focused on dysfunctional career thinking (e.g., Bullock‐Yowell, Peterson, Reardon, Leierer, & Reed, 2011; Leierer, Wilde, Peterson, & Reardon, 2016), consistently showing negative effects on variables such as career decidedness and life stress (Bullock‐Yowell et al, 2011), career decision state (Leierer et al, 2016), depression (Dieringer, Lenz, Hayden, & Peterson, 2017), and neuroticism (Kelly & Shin, 2009). Still, validation of the relationships among these four components and their impact on an individual's career decision‐making abilities is needed.…”

Mindfulness and Decision‐Making Style: Predicting Career Thoughts and Vocational Identity

“…Based on CIP theory (Sampson et al, 2004) and Beck's (1976) cognitive therapy approach, the Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI; Sampson et al, 1996b;Sargent & Lenz, 2017-2018 was developed to measure negative career thinking in career problem-solving and decision-making. Research on negative career thoughts has found significant relationships with decision-making style and cognitive thought patterns (Paivandy, Bullock, Reardon, & Kelly, 2008), depression (Saunders, Peterson, Sampson, & Reardon, 2000), hopelessness (Dieringer, Lenz, Hayden, & Peterson, 2017), and vocational identity (Strohm, 2008;Yanchak, Lease, & Strauser, 2005).…”

Using Experiential Learning Theory to Train Career Practitioners

“…Harris and Rottinghaus (2017) found that the General Occupational Themes and Personal Style Scales of the Strong Interest Inventory (Donnay, Morris, Schaubhut, & Thompson, 2004) accounted for significant variance in respondents’ subjective well‐being. Dieringer, Lenz, Hayden, and Peterson (2017) found that subscale scores of Decision‐Making Confusion, Commitment Anxiety, and External Conflict on the Career Thoughts Inventory (Sampson, Peterson, Lenz, Reardon, & Saunders, 1996) all had significant positive correlations with the total scores on the Beck Depression Inventory–II (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (Beck, 1993).…”