Universal Values as Predictors for Career Identity Indicators and Academic Major Satisfaction in Hong Kong Tertiary Students

The formation of career identity is an important coming-of-age issue in both
developmental and vocational psychology. This paper introduces universal values (under
Schwartz’s theory of basic human values) in addition to the popularly used career interest
congruence as predictors of three career identity indicators (commitment making,
identification with commitment and self-doubt). Meanwhile, satisfaction with academic
major was investigated both as direct influenced by values and as a secondary outcome of
having a more established career identity. As a set of factors that have received less attention
in career development research, universal values are important internalized beliefs and
criteria that deeply influence one’s goal setting and decision making. In the current study,
they are hypothesized to influence one’s career identity indicators and academic major
satisfaction through their career decision making and self-evaluation processes. We surveyed
562 students from a community college and a public university in Hong Kong and formulated
Contact detailslinear regression and structural models that showed significant associations among values,
career identity indicators and academic major satisfaction. Openness to change and selftranscendence
values were significant positive predictors of identification with career
commitment, and self-enhancement values positively predicted career self-doubt. Academic
major satisfaction was found to be positively influenced by commitment making and
negatively influenced by career self-doubt. Career interest congruence, however, only
showed a significant negative slope coefficient when used to predict career self-doubt in
linear regression. Implications for career counselling practice were discussed.
Statement & Disclosure
All authors