Temporal Stability, Correlates, and Longitudinal Outcomes of Career Indecision Factors

Abstract

A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the fit of Kelly and Lee’s six-factor model of career decision problems among 188 college students. The six-factor model did not fit the data well, but a five-factor (Lack of Information, Need for Information, Trait Indecision, Disagreement with Others, and Choice Anxiety) model did provide a good fit. Scores for four of the five factors demonstrated 8-month test–retest stability; scores on Disagreement with Others were not stable over the retest period. Trait indecision was negatively associated with age and year in school, but the other career indecision factors were not associated with age or year in school. Three of the five career indecision factors were associated with career decision-making self-efficacy assessed 8 months later, but only one factor (Trait Indecision) was associated with the subsequent declaration of a major among formerly undeclared students. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.