CAREER-DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS PURSUING HIGHER-EDUCATION

The correlates of adaptive career behaviour were examined for 157 unde rgraduate students in a University. Established instruments were chose n to assess dimensions of career maturity and psychological well-being . Less than half of the sample were able to specify an occupational go al, ie. a preferred occupation. Discriminant analysis yielded two sign ificant functions. Participants who had a commitment to an occupationa l goal possessed a higher level of career development, reported greate r satisfaction with life, and exhibited higher self-esteem than partic ipants with no such clarity of direction. The implications, for the ps ychological health of students due to their relative lack of readiness for career decision-making, are discussed alongside recommendations f or the provision of career/transition education, and suggestions for f uture research in this area.