The Role of Teachers in Adolescents’ Career-Specific Future Orientation.

Abstract

Despite the importance of teachers and the school context to adolescents’ career development, teachers’ influence on adolescents’ career preparation has received little attention. This study examined the relationship between perceived support from teachers and adolescents’ career motivation and exploration. The sample for this study (N = 801) comprised senior secondary school students in Nigeria (Mean = 15.23 years) and data was analysed using structural equation modelling. Perceived teacher invested support, teacher expectations, and teacher autonomy support were related to intrinsic motivation to choose a career and career exploration. This study is relevant to research and practice in its investigation of the neglected role of teachers in adolescents’ career development and its inclusion of an understudied population in the discourse on adolescents’ future orientation.