Understanding the Dysfunctionality of Dysfunctional Career Decision-Making Beliefs: Ambiguity Aversion as a General Mechanism

Abstract

Although dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs represent an important assessment and intervention area in career counseling, the empirical foundation and the general mechanism of the dysfunctionality of dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs remain not fully clear. Based on the dual-process theory of career decision-making, the current study used a sample of U.S. college students ( n = 200) and examined a longitudinal mediation model in which dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs predict subsequent career decidedness, career commitment, and academic major satisfaction through ambiguity aversion. The results supported the hypothesized mediation model in that dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs negatively predicted subsequent career decidedness, career commitment, and academic major satisfaction, and ambiguity aversion mediated all three links. Therefore, the present study not only shows that dysfunctional career decision-making has a pervasive detrimental role in career decision-making but also sheds light on the intricate relationship between dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs and ambiguity management in career decision-making. The limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are also discussed.