Psychological Counseling in Portuguese Higher Education: What are the Students’ Needs?

Abstract

This study explores the counseling needs of students attending Portuguese higher education. Specifically, a convenience sample of 375 students was surveyed online with the Survey of Student Needs. Descriptive results indicated that "overcoming procrastination", "job search strategies" and "time management skills" were their main concerns. Inferential results indicated differences according to personal and academic information and present living conditions, particularly in regard to personal counseling needs. Also, a linear regression analysis found that gender, academic satisfaction and satisfaction with current living conditions had a predictive effect on counseling needs, and that students had a preference for individual counseling. Conclusions are drawn about the importance of developing interventions targeting specific clients. RESUMENEste estudio explora las necesidades de asesoramiento de los estudiantes que asisten a la educación superior portuguesa. Específicamente, se encuestó en línea una muestra de conveniencia de 375 estudiantes con la Encuesta de Necesidades Estudiantiles. Los resultados descriptivos indicaron que "superar la dilación", "estrategias de búsqueda de empleo" y "habilidades de gestión del tiempo" eran sus principales preocupaciones. Los resultados inferenciales indicaron diferencias según la información personal y académica y las condiciones de vida actuales, particularmente, en lo que respecta a las necesidades de asesoramiento personal. Además, un análisis de regresión lineal encontró que el género, la satisfacción académica y la satisfacción con las condiciones de vida actuales tenían un efecto predictivo sobre las necesidades de asesoramiento, y que los estudiantes tenían preferencia por el asesoramiento individual. Se sacan conclusiones sobre la importancia de desarrollar intervenciones dirigidas a clientes específicos. Palabras clave evaluación de necesidades; asesoramiento psicológico; universidad; estudiantes portugueses.

Online and computer-assisted career guidance: Are students prepared for it?

“…Lastly, despite most students being interested in receiving online career information (e.g., regarding internships and job vacancies), the most preferred modalities of intervention are nevertheless the in-person. This is consistent with results from previous studies (e.g., Crişan et al, 2015;Pinto et al, 2016;Pinto, 2019), although in contrast to the study by Crişan et al (2015), Portuguese students systematically indicate a preference for individual sessions or workshops over group counseling sessions (Pinto et al, 2016;Pinto, 2019). It is clear that in-person individual career guidance is preferred to address several self-exploration needs, such as determining and developing own interests, skills, values, and goals, whereas in-person workshops can be used for topics on learning job strategies, negotiating job offers, and developing soft skills.…”

“…But there is hardly any focus on self-knowledge, with aspects such as knowing one’s life values and personality traits being two of the least valued needs. Compared to previous studies, there is a tendency to focus on aspects such as job search strategies and career decision-making, devaluing the self-exploration dimension that should underpin the career management process ( Yang and You, 2010 ; Crişan et al, 2015 ; Pinto, 2019 ). It therefore becomes necessary to raise student’ awareness of the importance of the topic of self-knowledge.…”

“…Career Offices in Higher Education: Needs Assessment Questionnaire was specifically developed for this study, taking into consideration the Career Self-Management Model of Greenhaus et al (2009) ( Pinto and Taveira, 2010 ), which considers career management as a decision-making and problem-solving process that encompasses four main stages: self-knowledge; exploration of the environment; development of goals; and development and implementation of action plans. The development of the items also considered other previously existing questionnaires published in scientific research (e.g., McBride and Muffo, 1994 ; Briscoe, 2002 ; Yang and You, 2010 ; Güneri et al, 2016 ; Pinto, 2019 ). This questionnaire was submitted for (i) evaluation of the content validity with a group of experts; (ii) evaluation of the clarity of the questionnaire content, and completion of the questionnaire with a 30-day interval for calculation of the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, with a group of students; and (iii) study of validity and internal consistency through Confirmatory Factor Analysis ( Khurumova, 2022 ).…”

“…Several past studies have addressed the career needs assessment of university students on a national level in China ( Li and Jung, 2021 ); a single-university level in the United States ( Fouad et al, 2006 ) and Romania ( Crişan et al, 2015 ); and, on a faculty level in Turkey ( Güneri et al, 2016 ) and Taiwan ( Yang and You, 2010 ). Moreover, overall counseling needs were explored in Finland ( Lairio and Penttinen, 2006 ), Greece ( Giovazolias et al, 2010 ), and Portugal ( Pinto et al, 2016 ; Pinto, 2019 ). Results indicate that, with differences depending on the population, gender, age, race, and socioeconomic status, the needs for help in academic and professional topics seem to surpass the needs for personal and social support ( Giovazolias et al, 2010 ).…”

“…In general, most of the students search for and receive career counseling or guidance in the final years of their studies ( Pereira et al, 2020 ). Commonly stated career needs include obtaining information about the world of work, the transition from university to work life (e.g., job search strategies, Pinto, 2019 ), career planning, and stress management ( Güneri et al, 2016 ), as well as, overcoming procrastination strategies and time management skills ( Pinto, 2019 ). Also, students are quite passive about using these services ( Crişan et al, 2015 ), preferring the employers to come to the university and display open vacancies rather than having to seek the information themselves.…”