Different Forms of Relationships Between Vocational Interests and Career Maturity in Chinese Context

Abstract

This study explores the relationships between vocational interests and career maturity in the context of China. We tentatively hypothesize that realistic, conventional, and artistic interests have negative linear relationships with career maturity, whereas investigative, social, and enterprising interests have positive but curvilinear relationships with career maturity. Analyses of the data collected from 5,474 participants provide support for most of the hypotheses. Specifically, the results demonstrate negative relationships of realistic and conventional interests with career maturity, a U-shaped relationship of artistic interest with career maturity, and concave upward curve relationships of investigative, social, and enterprising interests with career maturity. These findings add to the literature on vocational interests and provide practical suggestions for individuals and career counseling practitioners.

Theorizing parental intervention and young adults' career development: a social influence perspective

“…As noted by Hou and Leung (2011), parents' expectations might not be compatible with their children's aspirations due to occupational prestige. For instance, because conventional and realistic jobs have low levels of prestige in China, parents expect young adults to choose more prestigious jobs than these two jobs (Liu et al, 2017).…”

Conducting Studies on Person-Centered Career Interest Profiles: An Illustrative Example in Hong Kong

“…This scale was developed for the Hong Kong public agency and has been applied to measuring career interests of young adults when they seek consulting services. Liu, Peng, Mao, and Wong (2017) have already demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity of this scale in a Hong Kong sample. The reliabilities for the six types of interests were larger than or close to .70.…”

“…Past approach to career interests is construct-centered, assuming the homogeneity of respondents and focusing on relationships among constructs (McLarnon, Carswell, & Schneider, 2015). While this approach can investigate the consequences of each career interest such as career maturity (Liu, Peng, Mao, & Wong, 2017), it cannot address the combinations of the six types of career interests for a particular individual (McLarnon et al, 2015). With few exceptions, a job usually involves more than one type of activity.…”

The Effectiveness of the Career Guidance Module to Improve Career Maturity for Children with Special Needs in Inclusive Vocational High Schools

“…Every individual who chooses a particular career decision requires career maturity to be prepared early in school. School is where students can develop their talents and potential interests (Liu et al, 2017). Career maturity is an individual who has planned for the future and has the readiness to make career decisions that are appropriate to their age and stage of development (Munawir et al, 2018;Riyadi, 2017).…”