Transitional problems accompanying vocational development and college graduation

Abstract

In order to determine whether college graduation and vocational development are accompanied by an upsurge in amount and kinds of personal problems, senior students were contrasted with juniors according to three categories of specific-diffuse postgraduate career endeavors. Personal adjustment problems were assessed by the Mooney Problem Checklist, and response bias controlled by the MMPI K Scale. Results indicated that students report increased personal problems during the senior year, specifically where vocational choices are decisively formulated; furthermore, problems tend to cluster into specifiable adjustment areas. Findings were discussed in terms of college graduation as a transitional stage, and implications were drawn for the career counseling process.