Predicting career decision-making strategies in women: The role of self-determination and perceived emotional intelligence

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to investigate the role of self-determination (SD) and perceived emotional intelligence (EI) in adopting specific career decision-making strategies (CDMSs), and thereby to extend knowledge about personality factors playing a crucial role in adaptive ways of making career decisions. The study was conducted on a sample of 173 first-year university female students aged 19-25 using the questionnaires Career Decision-Making Profile (CDMP; Gati et al., 2010), Career Decision-Making Autonomy Scale (CDMAS; Guay, 2005), Academic Motivation Scale-College (AMS-C; Vallerand et al., 1992), and Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS; Salovey et al., 1995). The results supported the importance of SD and perceived EI in predicting adaptive career decision-making (CDM); SD accounted for 2-34% of variance in CDMSs and the perceived EI explained additional up to 11% of their variance, even after controlling for SD. Higher SD and perceived EI were associated with more frequent use of adaptive and less frequent use of maladaptive CDMSs. Our findings might be relevant to career counselling.