The Relationships Between Negative Affect, Social Support, and Career Maturity Among Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the relationships between negative affect, social support, and career maturity among adolescents. Methods: The participants in this study comprised 260 1 th junior high school students in a Seoul metropolitan area. They completed questionnaires on level of negative affect, social support, and career maturity. Data were analyzed by means of basic descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, and multiple and hierarchical regression analyses. Aiken and West's method was used to determine the interactive model's modality. Results: The major findings were as follows: First, negative affect was negatively correlated with social support and career maturity. Social support was positively correlated with career maturity. Second, significant interaction effects were found between negative affect and social support on career maturity; that is, for male students, significant interaction effects were found between negative affect and social support (parent support) on career maturity (career determinacy/career independence). For female students, significant interaction effects were found between negative affect and social support (peer support) on career maturity (career confidence/career readiness/ career determinacy/career independence). Conclusion: These results suggest the need to intervene in relation to social support (parent support/peer support) and to improve career maturity among adolescents.