An examination of the relationships among career decision-making self-efficacy, career salience, locus of control, and vocational indecision

Abstract

The present study continued the exploration of the relationship between career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) and vocational indecision as well as examined the relationship between the concepts of CDMSE, career salience, and locus of control. Subjects, 203 female and 204 male college students, were administered a demographic questionnaire and measures of career decision-making self-efficacy, occupational self-efficacy, locus of control, career salience, and career indecision in counterbalanced order. Results confirmed previous research findings that CDMSE was found to be moderately and negatively related to vocational indecision and locus of control whereas a moderate positive relationship was found between CDMSE and vocational decidedness and occupational self-efficacy. No relationship was observed between CDMSE and career salience nor were gender differences observed. Results of the stepwise discriminant analyses which examined the distinctions between students who had selected an academic major or career choice, had made a tentative selection, or were undecided indicated greater career decision-making self-efficacy; career salience and lower vocational indecision were associated with having made a selection. Career decision-making self-efficacy was found to be the only significant predictor of vocational indecision in college students. Results and implications for future research and for counseling interventions are discussed.