Relationships Among Career Thoughts, Career Interests, and Career Decision State

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships among negative career thoughts, profile elevation and differentiation scores on the Self-Directed Search, and career decision state, including level of decidedness and satisfaction with choice. Participants were 226 undergraduate students enrolled in a career course. Measures included the Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI) for career thoughts, the Self-Directed Search (SDS) for profile elevation and differentiation, the Occupational Alternatives Question (OAQ) for career decidedness, and the Satisfaction with Choice item for level of satisfaction with career choice. A series of multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the amount of variance accounted for by negative career thoughts (i.e., decisionmaking confusion, commitment anxiety, and external conflict) in profile elevation, differentiation, career decidedness, and satisfaction with choice. Negative career thoughts were found to account for a significant amount of variance in profile elevation, career decidedness, and satisfaction with choice. Findings suggest the need to fully explore negative thinking that interferes with clients making effective career decisions.

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