Parental career-related behaviors and adolescents’ career adaptation: Evidence from college students in transition from school to work

Fengjin Zhou^1,*, Zhen Wei²
1 School of Teacher Education, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, China
2 Student Affairs Office, Luoyang Polytechnic, Luoyang, China
* Corresponding Author: Fengjin Zhou. Email: email

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2026.074759

Received 17 October 2025; Accepted 27 April 2026; Published online 26 May 2026

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Abstract

This study examined parental career-related behaviors and adolescents’ career adaptation and the role of personal growth initiative and future work self salience in that relationship. Survey data were from 794 college students (female ratio = 46.85%; age = 21.22 ± 0.75), attending three universities in Central China. Results following structural equation modeling show that higher parental career-related behavior is associated with higher adolescents’ career adaptation. However, parental interference and lack of engagement are associated with lower adolescents’ career adaptation. Moreover, parental supportive behaviors are associated with adolescents’ career adaptation through adolescents’ personal growth initiative and future work self-salience. Conversely, parental interference and lack of engagement are associated with lower adolescents’ personal growth initiative and future work self salience. The findings align with Career Construction Theory and highlight that student counseling and development services should emphasize the importance of considering the family environment in adolescents’ career development.