Volume_5_Issue_1_Digest

7 TPC Digest Career adaptability, resiliency and perceived obstacles to career development of adolescent mothers were examined with a sample of adolescent mothers ( N = 101) from one state in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Participants were between the ages of 15 and 21 and from diverse racial backgrounds, including Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin (74%) and African American (22%). Data were gathered using the career planning scale from the Career Development Inventory-School Form, the self-exploration and environmental exploration scales from the Career Exploration Survey, the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents, and the Obstacle Survey. In addition, participants completed demographic questionnaires. The research questions that guided the study included the following: (1) What are the relationships between the three dimensions of career adaptability (i.e., planfulness, exploration, decision making) and resiliency? (2) What are the reported obstacles to the career development of adolescent mothers? (3) Can measures of resiliency predict career adaptability in adolescent mothers? Career development was conceptualized using life roles with specific focus on necessary skills to create and modify the working role. The results indicate that the dimensions of career adaptability (i.e., planfulness, exploration, decision making) can be quantitatively measured and used for assessment purposes to inform future intervention strategies. The results of this study may prove helpful for researchers and practitioners who want to assess and advance the career adaptability and resiliency of adolescent mothers while being mindful of perceived obstacles. In terms of career adaptability skills, the adolescent mother participants have similar skills to their nonparenting peers in both career planfulness and career decision making, but lower scores in career exploration. Heather Barto Simone Lambert Pamelia Brott In terms of resiliency, the participant profiles offer some consistent information about areas of strength and weakness. Participants possess similar levels of personal resiliency and emotional vulnerability to same-age and same-gender peers within the normative sample of the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents. However, some differences exist between the study sample and the normative group in terms of relational resiliency; adolescent mothers may need to develop skills to initiate and maintain socially supportive and healthy relationships. For further study of this population, researchers are encouraged to address the obstacles that participants may face in order to be involved in such a study (e.g., lack of childcare and reliable transportation). Research has indicated that childcare may lead to socioeconomic advancements of adolescent mothers, as they have increased available time to focus on school and work, so exploring childcare resources and possibly providing childcare resources while adolescent mothers partake in career development programs may be essential. Professionals working with adolescent mothers must address these women’s career adaptability and resiliency needs given their obstacles and opportunities regarding the working life role. The combination of resiliency and career adaptability may provide the positive, strengths-based assessment and intervention strategies framework necessary to assist adolescent mothers in overcoming obstacles and becoming self-supporting adults. Heather Barto is an Assistant Professor at Messiah University. Simone Lambert, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at Argosy University. Pamelia Brott, NCC, is an Associate Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Correspondence can be addressed to: Heather Barto, Suite 3052, Messiah College, One College Avenue, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, hbarto@messiah.edu . Read full article and references: Barto, H., Lambert, S., & Brott, P. (2015). Career adaptability, resiliency and perceived obstacles to career development of adolescent mothers. The Professional Counselor , 5 , 53–66. doi:10.15241/hb.5.1.53 Career Adaptability, Resiliency and Perceived Obstacles to Career Development of Adolescent Mothers