Personality, Career Decision Self-efficacy And Vocational Identity Among High School Students_A Tracking Study

Vocational Identity means the possession of a clear and stable picture of one’s goals, interests, and talents. This study used social cognitive career theory as a framework to investigate predictors of vocational identity, such as personality and career decision self-efficacy. The model was tested cross-sectionally and longitudinally with 1180 high school from Zhejiang and Shanghai, who were enrolled in 2012 as Senior One students. Students completed measures of personality, career decision self-efficacy and vocational identity in Grade 10, as well as some basic personal information. In Grade 11, measures of career decision self-efficacy and vocational identity were completed. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify the predicting effect of personality, career decision self-efficacy on vocational identity. SEM was used to examine the mediating effect of career decision self-efficacy on the relationship between personality and vocational identity.Based on the significant region and gender difference, the detailed results of the study show as follows:1, In Grade 10, Accommodation was significant negative predictor of vocational identity for both Shanghai and Zhejiang students. Dependability was significant negative predictor of vocational identity for Zhejiang students.2, In Grade 11, Accommodation was significant positive predictor of vocational identity for both Shanghai and Zhejiang students. Dependability was significant positive predictor of vocational identity for Shanghai students and Zhejiang female students.3, In Grade 10, Accurate Self-appraisal was significant negative predictor of vocational identity for both Shanghai and Zhejiang students. Gathering Occupational Information was significant negative predictor of vocational identity for Shanghai female and Zhejiang male students. Goal Selection was significant negative predictor for Shanghai students and Zhejiang female students. Making Plans for the Future was significant negative predictor for Shanghai and Zhejiang male students. Problem Solving was significant negative predictor for Shanghai female students and Zhejiang students.4, In Grade 11, Accurate Self-appraisal was significant positive predictor of vocational identity for both Shanghai and Zhejiang students. Gathering OccupationalInformation and Goal Selection were significant positive predictors of vocational identity for Shanghai students. Making Plans for the Future was significant positive predictor for Shanghai female students. Problem Solving was significant positive predictor for Shanghai female students and Zhejiang students.5, In Grade 11, career decision self-efficacy(Accurate Self-appraisal, Goal Selection and Making Plans for the Future)mediated partially the association between personality(Accommodation) and vocational identity in the Shanghai male sample;career decision self-efficacy(Accurate Self-appraisal, Gathering Occupational Information, Goal Selection and Making Plans for the Future) mediated partially the association between personality(Accommodation) and vocational identity in the Shanghai female sample.