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The relationship of life events and self-esteem to the vocational goal of human services
Abstract
This research examined the influences of life events and self-esteem on the vocational goal of human services of currently enrolled human service students in a community college and graduates of the the human services program from the community college. This survey research included an open ended questionnaire, the Schedule of Recent Experience, and the Culture Free Self-Esteem Inventory. Personal experiences, group and peer relations, family, and marriage influenced the choice of the vocational goal. Personal experiences described were critical life incidents in the development of the individual. Social, personal, educational and vocational categories of self-esteem were related to the vocational goal. Individual development from personal experiences had a positive effect on self-esteem which influenced the vocational goal. Respondents had been informed that human services was a suitable vocational goal for themselves by a friend, counselor, parent, or a co-worker. No significant differences were found between the currently enrolled students and the graduates on life experiences and self-esteem. The results of this research were consistent with Super's theory that a vocational goal was related to an individual's view of her/himself and of the vocational environment. The results supported Super's theory in that the vocational goal of human services was chosen to implement an individual's view of her/himself. The vocational goal of human services was influenced by life experiences, the individual's life stage of development, and the enhancement of an individual's self-esteem.
Subject Area
Community colleges|Academic guidance counseling
Recommended Citation
Dresser, Robert Francis, "The relationship of life events and self-esteem to the vocational goal of human services" (1992). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9225471.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9225471