Influence of Self Efficacy on Career Choice of Secondary School Adolescent Students in Afijio Local Government of Oyo State

Abstract

The issue of incorrect career choices among secondary school adolescents in Afijio Local Government Area and globally has reached a concerning level. It is concerning that it has risen to prominence in both academic and social discussions. This issue persists even after extensive studies on career selection. It is essential to examine the influence of self-efficacy on the career choices of secondary school adolescents in Afijio Local Government. This study evaluated the impact of self-efficacy on career choice among secondary school adolescents in the Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State. The investigation utilised a descriptive survey research design. Two hundred participants were chosen from five secondary schools in the Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, employing a stratified random sampling technique. The participants' ages varied from 11 to 19 years old. Three hypotheses were examined through linear regression at a 0.05 level of significance, indicating a significant relationship between self-efficacy and career choice (r = .740**, p < 0.05). Furthermore, socio-economic class did not have a significant impact on the career choices of adolescents in Afijio Local Government Area [t (200) = 1.69; p > .05]. Additionally, individuals from higher socio-economic backgrounds (X = 64.19; SD = 9.78) and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds (X = 62.27; SD = 8.19) exhibited comparable career choices. A notable correlation was observed between the educational status of parents and the career choices of adolescents in the Afijio Local Government Area, Oyo State (r = .612**, p < 0.05). In light of these findings, it is advised that school counsellors enhance their initiatives focused on training adolescents in assertiveness to mitigate incorrect career choices. Additionally, promoting positive self-efficacy training is essential to address the issue of misguided career paths.