The Relationship Between Executive Functions and Career Decision Making Efficacy of College Students

Abstract

Interest in the construct of executive functions (EF) witnessed an increase in the second half of the 20th century (Cole et al., 2006). Studies examining the relationship between EF and career indecision of college students are scarce. Therefore, the present study investigates whether executive functions are implicated in the career indecision of college students and the unique contribution of executive functions in predicting career indecision and its different dimensions.

The study’s participants were undergraduate university students at the American University of Beirut (AUB) aged between 18 and 23. Executive functions were measures using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions – Adult version (BRIEF – A; Roth et al., 2005) and career indecision was measured using the Career Indecision Profile – Short version (CIP-S; Xu & Tracey, 2017).

A non-experimental quantitative correlational design was used. Correlation analysis showed a negative association between executive functions and career indecision. Furthermore, the findings of the study elucidated that executive functions were significant predictors of career indecision. Particularly, emotional control, cognitive flexibility, self-monitoring, and planning were all significant predictors of neuroticism/ negative affectivity. planning/ organizing was a significant predictor of commitment anxiety while initiation, inhibition, and working memory predicted self-efficacy and career readiness.