EXPLORING PARENTAL INFLUENCE ON STUDENT’S CAREER CHOICE

Abstract

Selecting a career is a very important decision in a person's life. It not only decides the professional path but also the personal development and happiness. Though various factors contribute to this, among them the influence of parents plays the most significant role. Parents' impact on career decisions of children has been an issue of study among different research, as it can play a very decisive role in a person's life. The current study, "Parental Influence on Student's Career Choices" is an attempt to explore this dimension in detail. It attempts to find out how much parental influence in the forms of parental disappointment, assistance in presenting career information, and attributing career happiness to parents affects students' career choices and their level of satisfaction with their career path. The study utilizes a quantitative method, whereby a self-report questionnaire is used to collect data from a sample of 144 respondents. The data are analysed using statistical measures to make informed conclusions regarding the link between parental influence and career satisfaction. The research examined the role of parental factors in the career choice and satisfaction of students. Research findings indicated that the level of parental education did not significantly affect parental encouragement for career exploration, whereas mothers' occupation was significantly related to the effectiveness of career guidance. Parental financial support was positively linked with career satisfaction among students. Though non- significant results were observed, parental pressure and disappointment were found to relate to reduced career alignment and satisfaction, respectively. Yet, parents' perceived attribution of career satisfaction was positively related to actual levels of career satisfaction. These findings highlight the complex contribution of parent variables to students' career choices and welfare. Through this research, we wish to add to the current literature on this topic and offer relevant insights that can inform parents, teachers, and students in their career choices. The results of this research might also have bearings on career counselling practice, underlining the importance of taking parental influence into consideration when advising students on their careers,