ABSTRACT
The Effects of Parents' and Teachers' Autonomy Support on Adolescents' Career Maturity: Based on the Mediating Effects by Basic Psychological Needs and Multi-Group Analysis of Gender Difference
Hong, Yoon Kyoung
Department of Social Welfa...
ABSTRACT
The Effects of Parents' and Teachers' Autonomy Support on Adolescents' Career Maturity: Based on the Mediating Effects by Basic Psychological Needs and Multi-Group Analysis of Gender Difference
Hong, Yoon Kyoung
Department of Social Welfare
The Graduated School of
Seoul Women's University
This study was conducted to understand the correlation of adolescents' career maturity with their basic psychological needs and parents' and teachers' autonomy support. It was to review the mediating effects by adolescents' basic psychological needs and to show the difference in gender and other characteristics of sociology of population under the interaction with parents' and teachers' autonomy support and adolescents' career maturity. To that end, the result of a survey was analyzed. The survey was targeted at 1,020 students who were in second and third grade at 7 middle schools in Seoul and the Gyeonggi area.
The findings of this study were as follows:
First, the general characteristics of the students were found out. There were 420 male students (41.2%) and 600 female students (58.8%), so the ratio of female was higher. 337 students (33%) were in second grade, and 683 students (67%) were in third grade, so the ratio of third grade was twice as high as second grade. Their academic achievement level was that most students were on 'middle'. Next came 'high-middle', 'high', 'low-middle', 'low'. Their economic status was that 'middle' was the most. Next came 'high-middle', 'low-middle', 'high', 'low'. Their degree of life satisfaction was that 'satisfied' was the most. 'very satisfied' was next, so more than 65% students were satisfied with their life.
Second, based on the factors of sociology of population, the T-test about the level of parents' autonomy support and students' basic psychological needs and career maturity was performed. Gender, school year, academic achievement level, economic status and life satisfaction were set as the general factors. The difference by parents' autonomy support was not critically shown in gender and school year. However, the significant difference was shown in academic achievement level, economic status and life satisfaction. Related to teachers' autonomy support, the difference in school year, academic achievement level and economic status was not really shown, but there was the significant difference in gender and life satisfaction. The critical difference by students' basic psychological needs was not shown in the factor of school year but shown in gender, academic achievement level, economic status and life satisfaction. Students' career maturity did not differ in school year, but differed in gender, academic achievement level, economic status and life satisfaction.
Third, the correlation between parents' and teachers' autonomy support and the degree of satisfying adolescents' basic psychological needs was discovered. The more parents' and teachers' autonomy support gets, the higher the degree of satisfying adolescents' basic psychological needs improves.
Fourth, the correlation between parents' and teachers' autonomy support and adolescents' career maturity was revealed. The result showed that parents' autonomy support negatively interacted with the students' career maturity, but teacher's support positively interacted with it. The more teachers' autonomy support recognized by the students gets, the higher their career maturity goes. However, parents' autonomy support recognized by the students was turned out differently. That is, as the students sense their parents' autonomy support more, their career maturity gets lower.
Fifth, the survey showed that the degree of satisfying adolescents' basic psychological needs was statistically relevant. Those needs positively affect career maturity. In other words, basic psychological needs are described as autonomy, competence and relationship. As the students achieve those qualities better, their career maturity improves.
Sixth, the mediating effects by satisfying adolescents' basic psychological needs, which works between parents' and teachers' autonomy support and adolescents' career maturity, was discovered. It worked relevantly on the path that parents' autonomy reaches the students' career maturity as well as on the path that teachers' autonomy reaches the students' career maturity. Therefore, based on the interaction between parents' and teachers' autonomy support and adolescents' career maturity, the mediating effects of fulfilling basic psychological needs was partially proven, and it was identified as the critical parameter.
Seventh, multi-group analysis was performed to see if there was any difference in gender in terms of the correlation of adolescents' career maturity mediating their basic psychological needs with parents and teachers' autonomy support. The difference of path values for prime variables was reviewed: the effect of parents' autonomy support toward the level of fulfilling the students' basic psychological needs was statistically relevant in the male and female groups. The effects of parents' autonomy support toward the students' career maturity was not relevant in the male group, but it was relevant only in the female group. Career maturity of the male students was not affected by parents' autonomy support. On the other hand, the more the female students recognized their parents' autonomy support, the lower their level of career maturity appeared. The effects of teachers' autonomy support toward the students' career maturity was relevant only in the male group, so it was not statistically relevant in the female group. In this result, it was identified that teachers' autonomy support affects male adolescents' career maturity more than female ones. The effects of the level of fulfilling adolescents' basic psychological needs toward career maturity was statistically relevant in both groups. Therefore, as adolescents satisfy their basic psychological needs more, all male and female students' career maturity improves.
Eighth, the mediating effect by the level of satisfying adolescents' basic psychological needs between their career maturity and parents' and teachers' autonomy support was reviewed. The male students' group statistically showed the relevant result about the mediating effects in the path of parents' autonomy support toward the students' career maturity. Teachers' autonomy support statistically showed the relevant result as well. However, the female group showed the different result: the mediating effects of their basic psychological needs was relevant to the path of parents' autonomy support to the student's career maturity. By contrast, teachers' autonomy support was not statistically relevant. Therefore, the male students got affected by teachers more for satisfying their basic psychological needs in the correlation between autonomy support and career maturity. Meanwhile, the level of satisfying basic psychological needs in the correlation between parents' autonomy support and the students' career maturity was a significant parameter for both male and female groups. That is to say that satisfying adolescents' basic psychological needs is the key to helping them improve their career maturity.
Based on the findings of this study, it is important that parents need to have parenting styles that give their sons and daughters autonomy support: They let their sons and daughters make a choice, explain why and care for the emotions of their sons and daughters. Also, teachers need to have educating methods for autonomy support toward their students: They give students a chance to choose a topic they want to learn, explain why students need to be educated at school, arouse their interest and carefully listen to students' expressions and opinions. For that, it needs the regular training for teachers to improve their attitudes.
It is identified that satisfying adolescents' basic psychological needs is the key to improve their career maturity: The process, which adolescents explore their career path and plan for their future, is deeply related to fulfilling their autonomy, competence and relationship. Therefore, it needs to reinforce parents' and teachers' roles to satisfy adolescents' basic psychological needs.
According to this study about the correlation between parents' and teachers' autonomy support and adolescents' career maturity, the teachers' support affects the students more than the parents' in the male group. In contrast, the parents' support affects the students more than the teachers' in the female group. Based on this result, it is desirable that parents and teachers care for the difference of gender group, apply it for career guidance and improve adolescents' career maturity.
Under interest and cooperation among families, schools and community to improve adolescents' career maturity, adolescents can have more meaningful experience for it.
Middle school students are in on the stage of career exploration, so they can choose and experience jobs that they think they are suitable for. Based on their understanding themselves, it is important that they explore and experience careers which arouse their interest. Therefore, families and schools should provide opportunities for career exploration activity, let any adolescents share information about preparation for their future career and support them. Further, it is critical to establish the foundation of reinforcing curriculum for career exploration to emphasize the importance of career education.
This study was to identify the correlation of adolescents' career maturity with their basic psychological needs and parents' and teachers' autonomy support. It would provide the preliminary data that is helpful for suggesting for desirable parenting styles for families or educating methods for schools. As well, it would contribute to a suggestion for interventions, which are based on the difference in gender group, to improve career maturity.
Keyword: adolescents' career maturity, parents' and teachers' autonomy support, basic psychological needs, interventions by gender group