Career Decision-Making and Its Impact on Student Stress
| dc.contributor.author | ALIFF BIN AZMI | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-08-20T02:00:48Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description | Making a career selection is a big developmental responsibility for students at universities, and it is frequently accompanied with psychological stress that can affect their academic performance and emotional health. This qualitative study explores the causes of stress, the psychological implications of career indecision, the influence of outside forces, and the coping mechanisms students use to deal with stress connected to their careers. The study emphasizes the dynamic interaction between learning experiences, individual self-efficacy, and contextual factors like family expectations, societal standards, and financial restrictions. It is based on Krumboltz’s Social Learning Theory and the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT). Four main themes emerged from thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with third-year counselling students at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS): (1) ambiguity in career identity and family or societal expectations as the main stressors; (2) physical symptoms of anxiety and low self-esteem associated with career indecision; (3) external pressures from family, culture, and economics that influence or limit student choices; and (4) adaptive coping strategies for managing career uncertainty, such as seeking information, engaging in physical activity, and seeking resources. The results highlight the critical need for student-centered career support programs that take into account the environmental and psychological aspects of choosing a career. This study contributes to the limited research on the subject in Malaysia and has useful ramifications for educators, counselors, and legislators who want to encourage students’ mental health and well-informed career planning. In career development processes, it supports for integrative counselling approaches that enhance self-efficacy, manage outside pressures, and foster mental health. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://scholarhub.unimas.my/handle/123456789/1653 | |
| dc.language.iso | English | |
| dc.publisher | UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK | |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development | |
| dc.subject | career decision-making, student stress, career indecision, coping strategies, self-efficacy, university students, Malaysia | |
| dc.title | Career Decision-Making and Its Impact on Student Stress | |
| dc.type | Final Year Project |