Variables Asociadas a la Toma de Decisiones Académica y Profesional en el Alumnado de Educación Secundaria

Abstract

This study analyses the complexity of the process of making career decisions among high school students, specifically in the fourth year high school (ESO) and the second year of Baccalaureate (sixth form). To this end we analysed the influence of the emotional, cognitive and social dimensions of decision-making, styles of career choice decisions, self-esteem, perceived stress, self-confidence in decision-making and gender exploratory behaviour, school year, type of school and family educational background, and finally the relationships among these variables and their relationships with decision-making. 519 students from the fourth year of ESO and second year of Baccalaureate from four schools in the Province of Barcelona (2 state schools and 2 public-private) participated in the study. 6 scales were applied to measure the variables. The results showed that gender variables, school year, type of school, family educational background, the emotional, cognitive and social dimensions of decision-making, styles of career decision, self-esteem, perceived stress, self-confidence and exploratory behaviour all had significant influences on decision-making processes. Furthermore, we found that each of these variables had a close relationship with decision-making, while they had only moderate relationships amongst themselves. Our findings reveal the need to develop programmes for improving career decision-making in its emotional, cognitive and social dimensions.