| Based on the self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000), this study aimed at investigating the effect of the satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs, namely, competence, autonomy and relatedness, on career exploration and career decidedness. Six hundred and twenty-six students in a local post-secondary institute in Hong Kong completed questionnaires measuring the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs from their parents; perceived competence, autonomy and relatedness in career decision-making; career exploration as well as career decidedness.;Regression analyses showed that competence need satisfaction predicted perceived competence in career decision-making, career exploration as well as the two indicators of career decidedness, i.e. career clarity and career certainty. Autonomy need satisfaction was not found a significant predictor of perceived autonomy in career decision-making or career decidedness. Relatedness need satisfaction was found a significant predictor of perceived relatedness from parents in career decision-making, but not of career exploration or career decidedness. However, relatedness need satisfaction from parents was found moderating the effect of competence need satisfaction on one indicator of career exploration (i.e. environment exploration) and one indicator of career decidedness (i.e. career clarity).;Path analysis indicated that the perceived autonomy in career decision-making was directly related to career decidedness, while perceived competence and relatedness in career decision-making were directly related to career decidedness, as well as indirectly to it via the career exploration. Career exploration in turns showed direct effect on both indicators of career decidedness.;A model based on the self-system model of motivational development (Skinner, Furrer, Marchand, & Kindermann, 2008; Skinner, Wellborn, & Connell, 1990) was proposed to clarify the relationships among basic psychological needs; perceived competence, autonomy and relatedness in career decision-making; career exploration as well as career decidedness. Structural equation modeling was employed and found that the proposed model did not show satisfactory goodness-of-fit. A respecified model, with the autonomy need satisfaction and perceived autonomy in career decision-making removed, showed improved and satisfactory goodness-of-fit. The theoretical, research and counseling implications of the findings are discussed and future research directions are articulated. |
