Determinants of Career Choice for Students With Low and High Academic Achievement in Early Adolescence

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: Human Development 1

Abstract

In early adolescence students with high academic achievement have more career options than students with low academic achievement. However, academic achievement does not correlate with the perceived fit of the career choice and the decidedness. In line with Lent et al. (1994), we assume that parents' responsiveness influences student self-efficacy belief and career exploration that predict perceived fit and decidedness. We used longitudinal Swiss data in grades 5, 7 and 9. Results of structural equation models showed a moderating effect of academic achievement on career choice. The results imply that parents' responsiveness supports career exploration and indirectly decidedness and perceived fit of the chosen career pathway for low achieving students.

Authors

• Markus P. Neuenschwander, University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland

• Stephan Schumann, University of Konstanz

• Andreas Juettler, University of Konstanz