The Structure and Measurement of Career Indecision: A Critical Review

• Published in: The Career development quarterly Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 2 - 20
• Main Authors: Xu, Hui, Bhang, Cecile H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria National Career Development Association 01.03.2019; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Career Choice; Career counseling; Career Development; Career development planning; career indecision; Careers; Counseling; Counseling psychology; Counselor education; Decision making; literature review; measurement; progress; Psychology; Quantitative psychology; Questionnaires; Research methodology; structural model; Theory
• ISSN: 0889-4019; 2161-0045
• DOI: 10.1002/cdq.12159

This article presents a comprehensive review of literature published between 2000 and 2017 relating to the theoretical and empirical progress of indecision structural models and assessment. Because career indecision remains a central topic for counseling, it is important for the field to achieve an updated understanding of relevant models and measurement. Based on their review, the authors found that factors of career indecision can be reliably and validly measured by three instruments: the Career Decision Difficulties Questionnaire, the Emotional and Personality Career Difficulties scale, and the Career Indecision Profile. Drawing from these results, the authors developed an integrative model of career indecision consisting of five factors: neuroticism/negative affectivity, choice/commitment anxiety, need for information, lack of readiness, and interpersonal conflicts. Implications and recommendations for practice and research are discussed in a global context.