Risk perceptions of COVID-19, vocational identity, and employment aspirations of Chinese aviation students: a structural equation modeling approach

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the aviation and education sectors in China. This study examined the relationships between risk perceptions of the pandemic, vocational identity, and employment aspirations of Chinese aviation students.

METHODS

The study used a convenience sampling approach to collect data (n = 276 respondents) from August 2 to 8, 2022. An online survey was sent via WeChat and QQ to Chinese students majoring in aviation service management who were under lockdown at six Chinese schools.

RESULTS

In spite of the strong support for the stringent COVID policies and full awareness of infection risk and protective measures, respondents were worried about the current unstable situation and felt fear for its severity and long-lasting symptoms. The casual path from career commitment to employment aspiration was supported, but high risk perceptions of the pandemic failed to have any psychological effect on the two constructs of vocational identity and employment aspirations.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings not only demonstrate the power of career commitment on employment aspirations but also reveal that a relatively high self-assessment of career proficiency may not necessarily lead to a clear career aspiration, possibly due to poor risk communication and insufficient career planning guidance. Thus, Chinese aviation students should improve their career proficiency and commitment, broaden their career options and adaptability, and have a clear career plan, in order to be well prepared for the fierce job market that will face the next wave of the ongoing pandemic.

Vocational Identity Status in Chinese Emerging Adults with and without Hearing Impairment: Latent Profiles and Relationships with Self-Esteem and Subjective Well-Being

This study aimed to (1) explore the configuration of vocational identity status among emerging adults with and without hearing impairment using latent profile analysis, and (2) investigate the relationships between vocational identity status and self-esteem and subjective well-being. In total, 408 students without disabilities and 432 with hearing impairments from two Chinese higher institutions participated in the study. The Vocational Identity Status Assessment, Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Positive and Negative Affect were used to assess the major variables. The results derived five latent profiles (achieved, foreclosed, searching moratorium, undifferentiated, and diffused) of vocational identity in the present sample. The students were over-represented in undifferentiated profiles and under-represented in achieved and foreclosed ones. Hearing impairment significantly affected vocational identity status profile membership. The results showed that emerging adults with achievement and foreclosure statuses displayed healthy psychological outcomes, having the highest self-esteem, life satisfaction, and positive affect, and the lowest negative affect. In contrast, the diffused group showed the most disturbing pattern with the lowest self-esteem, life satisfaction, and positive affect, and the highest negative affect. The research findings reveal some notable issues in vocational identity status for emerging Chinese adults, raising concerns about the influence of hearing impairment on vocational identity formation, and provide implications for Chinese society to facilitate college students' career development process to promote their vocational identity status and enhance their self-esteem and subjective well-being.

Development and testing of the career decision-making self-efficacy scale for nursing students: a methodological study

BACKGROUND

The conventional Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale does not reflect the situation in Korea due to different sociocultural attributes and fails to account for the unique nursing profession and changes in healthcare. We aimed to develop and psychometrically test the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale for Nursing Students.

METHODS

A methodological study using a newly developed questionnaire tool and investigation of the validity and reliability of the preliminary instrument. Data were collected from 400 nursing students through an online survey conducted in May 2021. We identified 56 preliminary items through a literature review and focus group interviews. Of them, 40 were completed with a content validity index > .80. Content, construct, and criterion-related validity; internal consistency reliability; and test-retest reliability were used in the analysis.

RESULTS

Exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors including 21 items: adapting to work (20.5%), understanding the major (20.2%), and goal setting (16.4%), explaining 57.1% of the total variance. As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, 17 items in the three-factor structure were validated. Reliability, as verified by the test-retest interclass correlation coefficient, was .86 and Cronbach's α was .92. The final Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale for Nursing Students consists of 17 items: adapting to work (7 items); understanding the major (4 items); and goal setting (6 items).

CONCLUSION

The scale developed to measure the career decision-making self-efficacy of nursing students showed sufficient validity and reliability.

“New career” profiles for young adults incorporating traditional and protean career orientations and competencies

Purpose

Using latent profile analysis, the authors explored the career profiles of young adult tertiary students (N = 468, 73.9% women; mean age 20 years) to determine the relative importance of traditional career orientation (TCO) and protean career orientation (PCO) beliefs for them.

Design/methodology/approach

Young adults studying at university can aspire to traditional career experiences as they believe organizations will support their professional and career development. However, since the development of newer career models, the TCO model has received little research attention compared to the PCO.

Findings

The authors found that the dominant profile exhibited average levels of TCO, PCO and career competencies, and that this mixed profile was associated with more mature career identity development and greater organizational commitment. A second profile, with low TCO, average PCO and career competencies, showed a similar level of career maturity to the mixed profile, but exhibited less organizational commitment. A third profile, with average TCO, low PCO and career competencies, especially vocational identity awareness, was related to less career development and organizational commitment.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that a mixed traditional-protean orientation is common in young adult tertiary students and that the development of a vocational identity is important for positive career outcomes, regardless of orientation.

Development and Validation of the Career Identity Development Inventory

The primary aims of this study were to address existing measurement concerns in the neo-Eriksonian identity literature and fill a gap in the vocational identity literature by developing and validating the Career Identity Development Inventory (CIDI). As the processes of identity formation and career development share close conceptual ties, we introduced an integrated conceptual model of career identity development from which CIDI was developed to be comprised of two subscales, CIDI-E and CIDI-C, that were each composed of four career identity dimensions. In Study 1, we delineated how CIDI was constructed and reported initial evidence of validity and reliability using a sample of 398 US college graduates. We further tested the psychometric properties of CIDI in Study 2 using confirmatory factor analyses with another sample of 419 US college graduates. Implications for using CIDI at the variable and person level, and future research directions are provided to further the understanding of the career identity development process.

Concepts and Coefficients Based on John L. Holland’s Theory of Vocational Choice—Examining the R Package holland

John L. Holland’s theory of vocational choice is one of the most prominent career theories and is used by both researchers and practitioners around the world. The theory states that people should seek work environments that fit their vocational interests in order to be satisfied and successful. Its application in research and practice requires the determination of coefficients, which quantify its core concepts such as person-environment fit. The recently released R package holland aims at providing a holistic collection of the references, descriptions and calculations of the most important coefficients. The current paper presents the package and examines it in terms of its application for research and practice. For this purpose, the functions of the package are applied and discussed. Furthermore, recommendations are made in the case of multiple coefficients for the same theoretical concept and features that future releases should include are discussed. The R package holland is a promising computational environment providing multiple coefficients for Holland’s most important theoretical concepts.

Clinical and functional characteristics of a subsample of young people presenting for primary mental healthcare at headspace services across Australia

PURPOSE

Headspace services provide treatment options to young people seeking mental healthcare. To obtain a better understanding of needs and characteristics of this population, and effectively evaluate services, we require novel youth-specific outcome measures. As part of our broad research program to establish such measures, a sample of young people were recruited and assessed. The study describes (i) methodology used to obtain clinical, functioning, and substance use characteristics of young people presenting to headspace services; and (ii) an overview of these characteristics.

METHODS

Young people presenting to headspace centres were recruited. Multidimensional information was obtained relating to clinical and functional outcomes, demographic information, and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

1107 young help-seeking individuals were recruited. Participants were most likely young adults aged M = 18.1 years, SD = 3.3, with diagnoses of depression and/or anxiety (76.6%, n = 801), engaged in work and study (84.9%, n = 890), and living with parent(s) (68.9%, n = 736). Impairments in functioning were moderate as indicated by the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (M = 65.2, SD = 9.5), substance use was common (alcohol 62.7%, n = 665; illicit substances 30.5%, n = 324), and current suicidal ideation was reported by a third (33.6%, n = 358).

CONCLUSIONS

A broad dataset was obtained providing an insight into key clinical, functional and quality of life characteristics of these individuals. We observed that young people present with complex problems, comorbid diagnoses, moderate levels of symptomatology, impairments in functioning, substance use, and suicidal ideation. This work provides the foundation for our broader research program aiming to develop novel, relevant and youth-specific, change and outcome measures.

Moving Toward Decent Work: Application of the Psychology of Working Theory to the School-to-Work Transition

This conceptual contribution aims to adapt and apply Psychology of Working Theory to the specificities of the school-to-work transition (STWT) process. The STWT is thus conceptualized as a first attempt to access decent work under the influence of specific predictors, mediators, and moderators and leading to particular outcomes. Based on recent literature, we consider that (1) socioeconomic constraints and belonging to marginalized groups are contextual predictors of a successful transition; (2) psychosocial resources, including self-efficacy and adaptability, and vocational and work role identity, are mediators of the relation between contextual factors and a successful transition; (3) moderator factors include the education system, labor market conditions, social support, and critical consciousness; and (4) decent and meaningful work are the optimal outcomes of the STWT process.

Double Trouble: How Being Outnumbered and Negatively Stereotyped Threatens Career Outcomes of Women in STEM

Masculine work contexts form an important source of social identity threat for working women. But what aspect of masculine work contexts is most threatening to women’s gender identity at work: A numerical majority of male colleagues (i.e., numerical male dominance), working in a profession in which women are negatively stereotyped (i.e., normative male dominance), or the combination? The current study aimed to disentangle these two aspects of masculine work contexts by testing its combined impact on the experience of gender identity threat among women and men who work in the STEM sector (i.e., Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). A field study was conducted among women (N = 177) and men (N = 630) graduates holding an academic degree in a STEM educational program. Respondents either worked in- or outside the STEM sector (i.e., stronger vs. weaker gender stereotype) and estimated the ratio of men to women in their direct work environment. Results from a Structural Equation Model demonstrated that women in STEM face double trouble: The combination of working almost solely with male colleagues (being outnumbered) and working in the technical sector (where women are negatively stereotyped) predicted the highest levels of experienced gender identity threat, particularly among women who highly identified with their gender group. Gender identity threat, in turn, negatively predicted women’s work engagement and career confidence. Men did not face double trouble: Their experience of gender identity threat was not related to working in a masculine STEM sector. Importantly, considering that the women in this sample already hold a degree in STEM, and have proven their competence in STEM and resilience to gender stereotypes, this research reveals how in naturalistic work settings, prevailing social identity threats continue to affect women’s professional careers.

Validation of the Vocational Identity Status Assessment (VISA) Using Chinese Technical College Students

Developing a vocational identity is one of the most important tasks facing any adolescent, and vocational identity has become a focus of attention in career education and guidance for decades. However, few studies have been conducted on this topic in China due to a lack of relevant measures. The purpose of this study was to validate a Chinese version of the Vocational Identity Status Assessment (VISA) using 1,650 Chinese technical college students. The 30-item VISA–Chinese Version was found to have sound reliability and validity and with measurement invariance across age groups. This study contributes to the vocational identity literature by demonstrating the usefulness of VISA–Chinese Version.

#Trending topics in careers: a review and future research agenda

Purpose

Virtually all contemporary scientific papers studying careers emphasize its changing nature. Indeed, careers have been changing during recent decades, for example becoming more complex and unpredictable. Furthermore, hallmarks of the new career – such as individual agency – are clearly increasing in importance in today’s labor market. This led the authors to ask the question of whether these changes are actually visible in the topics that career scholars research. In other words, the purpose of this paper is to discover the trending topics in careers.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this goal, the authors analyzed all published papers from four core career journals (i.e. Career Development International, Career Development Quarterly, Journal of Career Assessment, and Journal of Career Development) between 2012 and 2016. Using a five-step procedure involving three researchers, the authors formulated the 16 most trending topics.

Findings

Some traditional career topics are still quite popular today (e.g. career success as the #1 trending topic), whereas other topics have emerged during recent years (e.g. employability as the #3 trending topic). In addition, some topics that are closely related to career research – such as unemployment and job search – surprisingly turned out not to be a trending topic.

Originality/value

In reviewing all published papers in CDI, CDQ, JCA, and JCD between 2012 and 2016, the authors provide a unique overview of currently trending topics, and the authors compare this to the overall discourse on careers. In addition, the authors formulate key questions for future research.

Online Resource to Promote Vocational Interests Among Job Seekers With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Australia

OBJECTIVE

To provide a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of an online resource for job seekers with multiple sclerosis (MS).

DESIGN

Randomized controlled design.

SETTING

Community-dwelling cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults (N = 95) with relapsing-remitting or progressive MS were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Forty-five accessed an email delivered, 7 module resource, Work and MS, over a 4 week period. Waitlist control participants (n=50) were offered the opportunity to access Work and MS 4 weeks postenrollment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcomes focused on vocational interests (My Vocational Situation Scale) and self-efficacy in job-seeking activities (Job-Procurement Self Efficacy Scale). Secondary outcomes focused on perceived workplace difficulties (Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire [MSWDQ]), optimism (Life Orientation Test - Revised), and mood (Patient Health Questionnaire-9).

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat analyses revealed pre-post gains: participants who accessed Work and MS reported improved confidence in their career goals (My Vocational Situation Scale g=.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], .14-.96; P=.008) and positively reappraised potential workplace difficulties (MSWDQ g range, .42-.47; P range, .023-.042). The effect on job self-efficacy was not significant, but changed in the expected direction (g=.17; 95% CI, -.23 to .57; P=.409). Completer data revealed larger, significant effect estimates (g range, .52-.64; P range, .009-.035).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide preliminary support for the utility of a job information resource, Work and MS, to augment existing employment services. The results also suggest the need to test employment-ready interventions in a larger study population. This might include the addition of online peer support to increase intervention compliance.

Parent and Adolescent Perceptions of Adolescent Career Development Tasks and Vocational Identity

We surveyed Australian adolescents and parents to test differences and congruence in perceptions of adolescent career development tasks (career planning, exploration, certainty, and world-of-work knowledge) and vocational identity. We found that, for adolescents ( N = 415), career development tasks (not career exploration) explained 48% of the variance in vocational identity; for parents ( N = 415), this was 38% (not world-of-work knowledge). Parent perceptions of career development tasks did not explain additional variance in adolescent vocational identity. There were moderate correlations between adolescent and parent perceptions of career development tasks and vocational identity, suggesting meaningful, but not substantial, congruence of perceptions. The findings provide useful insights into the understanding of, and relationship between, parent and adolescent perceptions of adolescent career development tasks and vocational identity, which suggest avenues for interventions with adolescents and parents.