Differentiation of Self, Career Adaptability and Optimism: The Mediating Role of Self-Construal

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 4, 799 - 812, 10.10.2023

Mustafa Alperen Kurşuncu , Şule Baştemur , Selen Demirtaş Zorbaz

https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1218339

Cited By: 1

Abstract

One of the variables in a better understanding of career adaptability and optimism levels is family-of-origin experiences. Differentiation of self (DoS) is one of the variables linked to career development. University students with higher DoS maintain an authentic intimacy with significant others while they succeed in individuation. The current study examined the mediator role of self-construal (i.e., interrelational, and self-developmental orientations) on the relationship between the differentiation of self and career adaptability. Our sample was composed of university students; 750 young adults (550 females, 73.3%; 190 males, 25.3%; and ten were missing) participated. The data were gathered from these young adults using the Career Adaptability and Optimism Scale, Differentiation of Self Inventory, Balanced Integrated Differentiation Scale, and Demographic Information Form. Contrary to our hypotheses, findings revealed that self-construal orientations mediated the relationship between differentiation of self and career adaptability in a negative direction. We concluded that a lack of balanced-integrated differentiation (self-construal) complicate the relationship between self-differentiation and career adaptability; we delineated our results considering the literature.

Keywords

Differentiation of Self, Career Adaptability, Self-Construal, Interrelational Orientation, Self-Developmental Orientation

Benlik Ayrımlaşması, Kariyer Uyumu ve İyimserliği: Benlik Kurgularının Aracı Rolü

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, benliğin farklılaşması ve kariyer uyumluluğu arasındaki ilişkide benlik kurgusunun (ilişkiler arası ve kendini geliştirme yönelimlerinin) aracı rolü kurulan yapısal eşitlik modeli ile incelemiştir. Çalışma grubu 750 beliren yetişkinlik dönemindeki üniversite öğrencisinden oluşmaktadır. Öğrencilerin 550’si kadın 190’ı erkek olmak üzere 10 öğrenci cinsiyetini belirtmemiştir. Verilerin elde edilmesinde Kariyer Uyum Yeteneği ve İyimserlik Ölçeği, Benlik Farklılaşması Envanteri, Dengeli Bütünleşme Ayrışma Ölçeği ve Demografik Bilgi Formu kullanılmıştır. Hipotezlerimizin aksine bulgular, benlik kurgusu yönelimlerinin benlik farklılaşması ile kariyer uyumluluğu arasındaki ilişkiye negatif yönde aracılık ettiğini ortaya koydu. Dengeli-bütünleşik farklılaşma eksikliğinin (benlik kurgusu), benlik ayrışması ve kariyer uyumluluğu arasındaki ilişkiyi karmaşıklaştırdığı ortaya konulmuştur. Elde edilen sonuçlar literatür ışığında tartışılmıştır.

Keywords

Differentiation of Self, Career Adaptability, Self-Construal, Interrelational Orientation, Self-Developmental Orientation

References

• Akün, Ç., Işık, E., & Savickas, M. (2023). Examining differentiation of self within career construction model of adaptation. Journal of Career Development, 50(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453211070027
• Allison, P. D. (2002). Missing data. SAGE Publications.
• Arbuckle, J. L. (2016). IBM SPSS Amos 24 user’s guide. [Computer software and manual]. IBM
• Ataca, B., & Sunar, D. (1999). Continuity and change in Turkish urban family life. Psychology and Developing Societies, 11(1), 77–90. https://doi.org/10.1177/097133369901100104
• Bacanlı, F. (2006). Kariyer araştırma yetkinlik beklentisi ölçeği: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışmaları. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri, 6(2), 301-330.
• Bacanlı, F., Eşici, H., & Özünlü, M. B. (2013). Kariyer karar verme güçlüklerinin çeşitli değişkenlere göre incelenmesi. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 4(40).
• Bacanlı, F., Yıldız Akyol, E., Kaynak, S., ve Özhan, M.B. (2018). Ergen-Ebeveyn Kariyer Uyumu Ölçeği'ni Türkçeye uyarlama çalışması. Ege Eğitim Dergisi, 19(2), 389-407. https://doi.org/ 10.12984/egeefd.396759
• Bandalos, D. L. (2002). The effects of item parceling on goodness-of-fit and parameter estimate bias in structural equation modeling. Structural Equation Modeling, 9(1), 78–102. https://doi.org/10.1207/ S15328007SEM0901_5
• Bentler, P. M. (2005). EQS 6 structural equations program manual. Multivariate Software.
• Boo, S., Wang, C., & Kim, M. (2021). Career adaptability, future time perspective, and career anxiety among undergraduate students: A cross-national comparison. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 29, 100328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2021.100328
• Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. Jason Aronson.
• Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K. A.Bollen, & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136–162). Sage
• Byrne, B. M. (1994). Structural equation modeling with EQS and EQS/WINDOWS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Sage.
• Cheung, G. W., & Rensvold, R. B. (2002). Evaluating goodness-of-fit indexes for testing measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling, 9(2), 233-255. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM0902_5.
• Creed, P. A., Fallon, T., & Hood, M. (2009). The relationship between career adaptability, person and situation variables, and career concerns in young adults. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 74(2), 219-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2008.12.004
• Erdem, G., & Safi, O. A. (2018). The cultural lens approach to Bowen family systems theory: Contributions of family change theory. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 10(2), 469-483. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12258.
• Fiorini, M. C., & Patta Bardagi, M. (2018). Family functioning, differentiation of self and career adaptability of brazilian university students. Psicología desde el Caribe, 35(3), 210-223. https://doi.org/10.14482/psdc.35.3.155.2
• Garcia, P. R. J. M., Restubog, S. L. D., Ocampo, A. C., Wang, L., & Tang, R. L. (2019). Role modeling as a socialization mechanism in the transmission of career adaptability across generations. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 111, 39-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2018.12.002
• Guan, Y., Wang, Z., Gong, Q., Cai, Z., Xu, S. L., Xiang, Q., ... & Tian, L. (2018). Parents’ career values, adaptability, career-specific parenting behaviors, and undergraduates’ career adaptability. The Counseling Psychologist, 46(7), 922-946. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000018808215
• Guan, Y., Wang, F., Liu, H., Ji, Y., Jia, X., Fang, Z., ... & Li, C. (2015). Career-specific parental behaviors, career exploration and career adaptability: A three-wave investigation among Chinese undergraduates. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 86, 95-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.10.007
• Hardin, E. E., Leong, F. T. L., & Osipow, S. H. (2001). Cultural relativity in the conceptualization of career maturity. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 58(1), 36-52. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.2000.1762
• IBM Corp. Released (2013). IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, IBM Corp.
• Işık, E. & Bulduk, S. (2013). Psychometric properties of the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised in Turkish adults. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(1), 102-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12022.
• İmamoğlu, E. O. (1998). Individualism and collectivism in a model and scale of balanced differentiation and integration. The Journal of Psychology, 132(1), 95-105. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223989809599268
• İmamoğlu, E. O. (2003). Individuation and relatedness: Not opposing but distinct and complementary. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 129(4), 367-402.
• İmamoğlu, E. O., & İmamoğlu, S. (2007). Relationship between attachment security and self-construal orientations. The Journal of Psychology, 141(5). https://doi.org/539-558.10.3200/JRLP.141.5.539-560
• JASP Team (2019). JASP (Version 0.11.1) [Computer software].
• Johnson, P., Schamuhn, T. D., Nelson, D. B., & Buboltz Jr, W. C. (2014). Differentiation levels of college students: Effects on vocational identity and career decision making. The Career Development Quarterly, 62(1), 70-80. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2014.00071.x
• Johnston, C. S. (2018). A systematic review of the career adaptability literature and future outlook. Journal of Career Assessment, 26(1), 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072716679921
• Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç. (1996). The autonomous-relational self. European Psychologist, 1(3), 180-186. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040.1.3.180.
• Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç. (2007). Family, self and human development across cultures: Theory and applications (2nd ed.). Erlbaum.
• Karakitapoğlu-Aygun, Z. (2004). Self, identity, and well-being among Turkish university students. Journal of Psychology, 138(5), 457–478. https://doi.org/10.3200/JRLP.138.5.457-480.
• Keller, B. D. (2006). Beyond individual differences: The role of differentiation of self in predicting the career
• exploration of college students. [Unpublished doctoral dissertation], The Pennsylvania State University.
• Kerr, M. E., & Bowen, M. (1988). Family evaluation: An approach based on Bowen Theory. W. W. Norton & Co
• Kline, R. B. (2011). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (3rd ed.). The Guilford Press
• Konstam, V., Celen-Demirtas, S., Tomek, S., & Sweeney, K. (2015). Career adaptability and subjective well-being in unemployed emerging adults: A promising and cautionary tale. Journal of Career Development, 42(6), 463-477. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845315575151
• Koen, J., Klehe, U. C., & Van Vianen, A. E. M. (2012). Training career adaptability to facilitate a successful school-to-work transition. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 81(3), 395–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2012.10.003
• Kurşuncu, M. A. & Sümer, Z. H. (2021). Nuclear family emotional functioning and marital satisfaction: The cultural lens of self-construal. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 51(4) 440-459. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/01926187.2021.1992804.
• Kwon, S. H., & Lee, J. (2014). The relationship between maternal and paternal parenting styles and young adults' career decision-making: the mediational roles of differentiation of self. Journal of Korean Home Management Association, 32(5), 41-61. https://doi.org/10.7466/JKHMA.2014.32.5.41
• Larson, J. H., & Wilson, S. M. (1998). Family of origin influences on young adult career decision problems: A test of Bowenian theory. American Journal of Family Therapy, 26(1), 39-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926189808251085
• Lease, S., & Dahlbeck, D. (2009). Parental influences, career decision-making attributions, and self-efficacy. Journal of Career Development, 36(2), 95–113. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845309340794
• Lee, H.-Y., & Hughey, K. F. (2001). The relationship of psychological separation and parental attachment to the career maturity of college freshmen from intact families. Journal of Career Development, 27, 279–293. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007855104473
• Little, T. D., Cunningham, W. A., Shahar, G., & Widaman, K. F. (2002). To parcel or not to parcel: Exploring the question, weighing the merits. Structural Equation Modeling, 9(2), 151–173. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM0902_1
• Ma, P. W. W., & Yeh, C. J. (2005). Factors influencing the career decision status of Chinese American youths. The Career Development Quarterly, 53(4), 337-347. https:/doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2005.tb00664.x
• Martens, M. P. (2005). The use of structural equation modeling in counseling psychology research. The Counseling Psychologist, 33(3), 269-298. https:/doi.org/10.1177/0011000004272260
• Milfont, T. L., & Fischer, R. (2010). Testing measurement invariance across groups: Applications in cross-cultural research. International Journal of Psychological Research, 3(1), 111-130. https://doi.org/ 10.21500/20112084.857.
• Nasser-Abu Alhija, F., & Wisenbaker, J. (2006). A Monte Carlo study investigating the impact of item parceling strategies on parameter estimates and their standard errors in CFA. Structural Equation Modeling, 13(2), 204–228. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328007sem1302_3
• Osipow, S. (1983). Theories of career development (3rd ed.). Prentice- Hall.
• Piña‐Watson, B., Jimenez, N., & Ojeda, L. (2014). Self‐construal, career decision self‐efficacy, and perceived barriers predict Mexican American women's life satisfaction. The Career Development Quarterly, 62(3), 210-223. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2014.00080.x
• Saka, N., Gati, I. (2007). Emotional and personality-related aspects of persistent career decision-making difficulties. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 71(3), 340–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2007.08.003
• Savickas, M. L. (1997). Career adaptability: An integrative construct for life‐span, life‐space theory. The Career Development Quarterly, 45(3), 247-259. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.1997.tb00469.x
• Savickas, M. L. (2011). Constructing careers: Actor, agent, and author. Journal of Employment Counseling, 48(4), 179-181. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1920.2011.tb01109.x
• Savickas, M. L. (2013). Career construction theory and practice. In Brown, S. D. & Lent, R. W. (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work, (pp. 147-183). John Wiley & Sons.
• Savickas, M. L. (2015). Life-design counseling manual. http://www.vocopher.com/LifeDesign/LifeDesign.pdf
• Savickas, M. L., & Porfeli, E. J. (2012). Career Adapt-Abilities Scale: Construction, reliability, and measurement equivalence across 13 countries. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(3), 661–673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2012.01.011
• Schumacker, R. E., & Lomax, R. G. (2004). A beginner’s guide to structural equation modeling (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Skowron, E. A., & Friedlander, M. L. (1998). The Differentiation of Self Inventory: Development and initial validation. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 45(3), 235. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.45.3.235
• Sunar, D., & Fişek, G. (2005). Contemporary Turkish families. In U. Gielen & J. Roopnarine (Eds.), Families in global perspective (pp. 169–183). Allyn & Bacon.
• Super, D. E. (1980). A life-span, life-space approach to career development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 16(3), 282-298. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(80)90056-1
• Super, D. E., & Knasel, E. G. (1981). Career development in adulthood: Some theoretical problems and a possible solution. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 9(2), 194-201.
• Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2013). Using Multivariate Statistics (6th ed.). Pearson/Allyn & Bacon
• Taber, B. J., Blankemeyer, M. S. (2015). Time perspective and vocational identity statuses of emerging adults. Career Development Quarterly, 63(2), 113–125. https://doi.org/10.1002/cdq.12008
• Whiston, S. C., & Keller, B. K. (2004). The influences of the family of origin on career development: A review and analysis. The Counseling Psychologist, 32(4), 493-568. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000004265660
• Zorver, C. E. & Korkut Owen, F. (2014). Kariyer uyumu ve iyimserliği ölçeği’nin geliştirilmesi (Developing career adaptability and optimism scale). International Journal of Human Sciences, 11(2), 314-331. https://doi.org/10.14687/ijhs.v11i2.2911