Positive parenting, career aspirations, and exploration: A study of third-year urban undergraduate students

Dian Ratna Sawitri,Dian Veronika Sakti Kaloeti,Novi Qonitatin,Frieda N R Hidayati,Erin Ratna Kustanti,Niken Fatimah Nurhayati

doi:10.7454/proust.v4i1.118

Dian Ratna Sawitri, Dian Veronika Sakti Kaloeti + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7454/proust.v4i1.118

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Abstract

Career exploration reflects activities conducted to collect information about oneself and potential occupations to become self-aware and understand the job market. Career exploration guides the realization of career aspirations and is thus crucial for young adults. It helps the youth make appropriate career-relevant decisions. However, it is unknown whether career aspirations mediate the links between positive parenting and career exploration activities undertaken by urban third-year undergraduate students. This study aimed to bridge this gap in the literature, and to this end, a survey was administered to 125 third-year undergraduate students attending a state university in Semarang, Central Java. The Career Exploration Scale, Career Aspirations Scale, Positive Parenting Subscale, and questions on demographic characteristics were employed for data collection. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that career aspirations fully mediated the path between positive parenting and career exploration. The findings of this study underline the importance of career aspirations in translating the effects of positive parenting into specific career exploration activities undertaken by college students. Finally, suggestions based on the study results are offered for third-year undergraduate students, parents, and practitioners.

Highlights

Career exploration activities involve the collection of information, both on oneself and work-related matters
Career exploration incorporates the scrutiny of the job market and is influenced by numerous factors that function in the decision-making process of career selection: for example, available career choices, existing job vacancies, current job requirements, the expectations of significant others, and personal networking circumstance
Three sets of three to four items represented each latent variable designated for career aspiration and career exploration (Kline, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

Career exploration activities involve the collection of information, both on oneself and work-related matters. This period of active individual contemplation of educational options and career-related paths before making actual career decisions is an essential step for undergraduate students After their third year, undergraduate students are expected to have built an extensive network that can offer them wide access, robust support systems, and role models from various work domains. Undergraduate students are expected to have built an extensive network that can offer them wide access, robust support systems, and role models from various work domains Their immediate environment comprising parents, friends, families, and academic environment may not always be conducive to the exploration of personal competence and the pursuit of career exploration activities. The presence of positive role models, assistance in alleviating anxieties, and easy access to a greater number of career role models can encourage students to explore career options and can help them frame career aspirations (Fletcher et al, 2020)

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