The Parental Career-related Behaviors (PCB) questionnaire: Italian validation

Although it has been acknowledged that parental support has an influence on adolescents’ career decision-making difficulties, there is no validated scale available in Italian that assesses this support. For this reason, the goal of the present study is to validate an Italian version of the Parental Career-related Behaviors (PCB) questionnaire in a sample of 481 adolescents. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the three-dimensional structure of the PCB. The internal consistencies were high for all subscales. Evidence of measurement invariance across boys and girls was observed. Finally, the PCB dimensions were meaningfully related to career exploration activities and career indecision. The strongest associations were found between parental support and adolescents’ career exploration activities and between both parents’ interference and their lack of engagement behaviors and career indecision in adolescents. These findings suggest that the Italian version of the PCB is a valid tool for assessing parental career-related behaviors and could be of interest for career counselors working with adolescents

Positive Resources for Flourishing: The Effect of Courage, Self-Esteem, and Career Adaptability in Adolescence

Flourishing is defined as an optimal state of functioning in which individuals pursue their goals and aspirations. Hence, flourishing seems to be a protective factor for career transitions in adolescence. This study aimed to analyze the predicting role of self-esteem, courage, and the four career adaptability dimensions, i.e., concern, control, curiosity, and confidence, on flourishing. The sample consisted of 221 Italian adolescents attending the last year of middle school. The preliminary analyses showed gender differences in courage and flourishing, reporting females higher scores than males on both variables. The SEM path model showed that courage, self-esteem, and confidence predict flourishing, and suggested that confidence partially mediates the relationship between courage, self-esteem, and flourishing. Findings have also permitted us to draw practical implications for interventions in adolescence

Development and Validation of the Teacher Career-Related Support Self-Efficacy (TCSSE) Questionnaire

Background: Career-related teacher support self-efficacy refers to the teacher’s confidence in his/her own ability to support students’ career choices. To our knowledge, there are neither studies that focus on this topic nor instruments to measure it. Therefore, the current study aimed at developing and validating an instrument to assess teacher career-related support self-efficacy (TCSSE). Methods: In a multi-step process, items were developed and three studies that involved Italian in-service teachers were conducted. In Study 1 (n = 232), the TCSSE was developed and exploratory factor analysis on the 51 initial items was performed. In Study 2 (n = 294), six factors—Get Ready, Empower Self, Get Curious, Empower Skills, Emotional Support and Instrumental Support (α = 0.885)—across 36 items were tested through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In Study 3 (n = 100), the reliability of TCSSE was tested. Results: The EFA performed in Study 1 suggested a six-factor solution with 36 items. The results of Study 2 confirmed the six-factor structure (χ2 (579) = 1387.965, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.964, TLI = 0.961, RMSEA = 0.069), the internal consistency (α = 0.863 for Get Ready, α = 0.857 for Empower Self; α = 0.864 for Get Curious; α = 0.909 for Empower Skills; α = 0.881 for Emotional Support; α = 0.885 for Instrumental Support) and validity of the TCSSE. Finally, in Study 3, the reliability of TCSSE was also confirmed. Conclusion: The TCSSE questionnaire can provide researchers and practitioners with a new and reliable measure to assess teacher career-related support self-efficacy. Suggestions for future studies and practice are also provided

Youth unemployment and health outcomes: the moderation role of the future time perspective

The extent to which young people think about the future, called time perspective, and their affective view (positive/negative) was related to their current socioeconomic situation. Specifically, we assessed the relationship between the NEET condition and self-perception of adulthood and health and aimed to verify the moderating role of future-time perspective among 450 Italian young adults (150 NEET, 300 Non-NEET). We found a key role for future-time perspective for NEET status and self-perception of adulthood, anxiety/depression, withdrawal, and aggressive behavior, but not for rule-breaking behavior. This evidence suggests the possibility of career interventions to improve future orientation to reduce health problems

Career adaptability, hope, optimism and life satisfaction in Italian and Swiss adolescents

The consequences of economic crisis are different from one European context to the other. Based on life design (LD) approach, the present study focused on two variables—career adaptability and a positive orientation toward future (hope and optimism)—relevant to coping with the current work context and their role in affecting life satisfaction. A partial mediational model between career adaptability and life satisfaction, through a positive orientation toward future (hope and optimism), was tested across Italian and Swiss countries. Seven hundred twenty-six Italian and 533 Swiss young people between the ages of 12 and 16 years were involved. Results provided support for the model in the Italian group and a full mediation model for the Swiss one. The data suggest that the context may have an effect on how career adaptability has an impact on general life satisfaction. These results have important implications for practice and underscore the need to support adolescents in their LD process. </jats:p

Career Adaptability, Hope, Optimism, and Life Satisfaction in Italian and Swiss Adolescents

The consequences of economic crisis are different from one European context to the other. Based on life design (LD) approach, the present study focused on two variablescareer adaptability and a positive orientation toward future (hope and optimism)relevant to coping with the current work context and their role in affecting life satisfaction. A partial mediational model between career adaptability and life satisfaction, through a positive orientation toward future (hope and optimism), was tested across Italian and Swiss countries. Seven hundred twenty-six Italian and 533 Swiss young people between the ages of 12 and 16 years were involved. Results provided support for the model in the Italian group and a full mediation model for the Swiss one. The data suggest that the context may have an effect on how career adaptability has an impact on general life satisfaction. These results have important implications for practice and underscore the need to support adolescents in their LD process