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Gender Differences for Optimism, Self-esteem, Expectations and Goals in Predicting Career Planning and Exploration in Adolescents

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Abstract

An Australian sample (N=467) of high school students was administered scales tapping optimism, self-esteem, career expectations, career goals, career planning and career exploration. The study tested a career mediational model based on social cognitive career theory (SCCT) and cognitive–motivational–relational theory (CMR). It was hypothesized that the stable person inputs of optimism and self-esteem would predict career planning and career exploration through the variables of career expectations and career goals differentially for young males and females. For males, optimism and self-esteem influenced career expectations, sequentially predicting career goals, career planning and career exploration. A different pathway was identified for females, with optimism directly influencing career goals, which subsequently predicted career planning and career exploration. Self-esteem predicted career expectations, which then directly influenced career planning and career exploration by bypassing career goals. Results are discussed in the context of SCCT and CMR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Wendy Patton

  2. Griffith University – Gold Coast, School of Applied Psychology, Pmb 50 GCMC, Gold Coast, Queensland, 9726, Australia

    Dee A. Bartrum & Peter A. Creed

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  1. Wendy Patton
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  2. Dee A. Bartrum
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  3. Peter A. Creed
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Correspondence to Peter A. Creed.

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Patton, W., Bartrum, D.A. & Creed, P.A. Gender Differences for Optimism, Self-esteem, Expectations and Goals in Predicting Career Planning and Exploration in Adolescents. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 4, 193–209 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-005-1745-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-005-1745-z

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