Assessing Parental Support on Career Decision-Making among Undergraduates in Public Universities in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study explores the assessment of parental support on career decision-making among undergraduates in public universities in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study aimed ’to identify how parental support contributes to students' career decisions and assess the relationship between parental involvement and students' career choices. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised undergraduates in public universities in Lagos State. A sample of 300 students was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, named the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale (CDMSE) in its Short Form (CDMSE-SF). The questionnaire’s reliability was established using Cronbach's Alpha and reliability index of 0.88 was ascertained. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed a significant positive correlation between parental emotional support, financial support, and advisory support, and students’ career decision-making self-efficacy. Parental involvement was found to enhance students’ confidence in making career decisions, though it also highlighted the pressure some students faced in aligning their career choices with parental expectations, and shown statistically significant results with p-values below 0.05. The study concluded that parental support plays essential role in shaping students’ career decisions, but that it is important to balance parental guidance with students’ autonomy and interests. The study recommended that universities integrate family engagement into their career counseling programs, organize workshops for parents to improve their understanding of the evolving job market, and provide strategies for parents to support their children's career exploration without exerting undue pressure.