The Associations Between Career Decision-Making Difficulties and Negative Emotional States

Ella Anghel, Itamar Gati*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Career decision-making difficulties are the challenges encountered by individuals before, during, or after choosing one’s career. This study tested the associations between career decision-making difficulties and depression, anxiety, and stress, considering the career decision status of participants. Students in a precollege preparatory program filled out questionnaires at the beginning and near the end of the academic year (N = 137). The correlations between career decision-making difficulties, as measured by the Career Decision-Making Difficulties, and negative emotional states measured by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales, were positive at both administrations (rT1 =.24, rT2 =.38). Using a multivariate analysis of variance, we have found that those who became more decided had fewer career decision-making difficulties (d = 1.26). The changes in career decision status were not associated with either depression, anxiety, or stress. However, overall negative emotions intensified among students who were still undecided at the end of the year (d = 0.72). Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)537-551
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Career Development
Volume48
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Curators of the University of Missouri 2019.

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • career decision status
  • career decision-making difficulties
  • depression
  • stress

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