College Identity and Congruence of Occupational Plans: A Longitudinal Study

• Main Author: Zeranski, Lauren A.
• Format: Others
• Published: ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst 2010
• Subjects: Emerging adulthood; psychosocial development; vocational development; Psychology; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/381; https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1463&context=theses

The college years can be a period of significant identity exploration and development. Data from a longitudinal study of psychosocial development in college and beyond was analyzed to examine the relationship between levels of identity in college and congruence between career plans made in college and later career outcomes, 10 and 20 years after graduation. Results indicated no significant relationship between level of college identity and career congruence, due to the limited variance in level of college identity development. Gender, marital status, and parental status did not influence this relationship. Support is provided for the developmental theory of Emerging Adulthood.