Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Mediating Influence Of Career Aspirations And Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy On Self-Differentiation, Vocational Identity, And Career Indecision, Jay Justin Middleton

Doctoral Dissertations

Research indicates that numerous family variables influence the career-development process (Osipow, 1983). Bowen's family systems theory is one model through which to view the development and influence of the family on career development (Bowen, 1972). According to his theory, individuals begin life highly dependent on family members for all forms of support. As people grow into adults, they slowly become independent of their family, or self-differentiated. Adults low in self-differentiation have been found to make decisions in order to appease their families. Further, low levels of self-differentiation have been related to greater mental health problems (Skowron & Friedlander, 1998) and …