Factors Influencing High School Students' Career Aspirations

Abstract

This article explores the factors influencing high school students' career aspirations with a study analyzing 141 high school students. The Social Cognitive Career Development Model was utilized to examine the interactive relationships among learning experiences, career self-efficacy, outcome expectations, career interests, and career choices. The results of a structural equation modeling analysis supported the mediating role of career self-efficacy in the career decision-making process, but the specific paths among the predicting variables to career aspirations were found to be different for female and male high school students. Implications for school counselors to provide more effective career intervention programs are discussed.