ABSTRACT

This research project was designed to study the role of parents as a career counselor of their adolescent children. The study was guided by three objectives and three research question to accomplish this task. The study benefits the schools, parents, career counselors and adolescent youths. The objective of the study were to determine the roles of parents as a career counselor to their adolescent children in Orlu Local Government Area. Review of related literature on the topic was done. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study was one hundred (100) adolescents which consisted of male and female between the ages of 10-21years both catholic and non-Catholics. The method of data collection were both interview and questionnaire. Validity and Reliability of the instrument were ensured. Simple random sampling method was used to select the subjects for the study. Data was presented and analyzed using frequency percentile tables. Findings from the data collected review that parents play an important role in the career choice and development of their adolescent children. Based on the findings and conclusion, recommendation were made which include that parents should enlighten adolescent youths through media on the importance of various profession and their entry requirement and government should ensure that career guidance services is provided in all secondary schools in the state.   

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Career counseling is a specialty within the profession of counseling, one that fosters vocational or career development and work adjustment of individuals at each life stage by engaging them in life planning aimed at the psychological integration of an individual’s abilities, interests, and goals with the work roles structured by the community and occupations organized by companies (and) assist a developing and deciding individual to make suitable and viable choices” (Savickas, 2003, p. 88). Career counseling can also be refered as a career guidance and career coaching. Career counselors focuses on generally on issues such as career exploration, career change, personal career development and other career related issues. Career counselors also work with people from various walks of life such as adolescents seeking to explore career options, experienced professional contemplating a career change, parents who want to return to the world of work. In the past and even now for many, it was assumed that an individual going through adolescence would be developing their independence and slowly eliminating his or her family’s constraints as he or she formed his own identity into the larger world. In effect, the person would make career decisions, based on his or her own interest or occupational goals with limited influence from others. However, this pictures fails to include the notion that not every decision will happen so autonomously for the individual. These means that their family still have a strong influence upon them especially in two significant life events such as their marriage and career (Larson, 2008). According to Braungar 2008, parents are the primary authority in influencing their children’s work value, sex role, providing social skill training, their attitude and developing sense pf responsibility. The important of parents role in their adolescent children’s career choice is consistently important even across the gender and racial lines (Ferry, 2004). In one study (Creamer and Laughlin 2005), this influence has been so strong as to override the role of teachers and career counselors who likely know more about the career field in question but were not as well known or trusted as the parents for this type of decision. Middleton 2006, found out that career choice of the adolescents are decision that should be carefully made possibly with the assistance of a career counselor because it affects the entire life or existence of the individual. Middleton opined that adolescent derive satisfaction and fulfillment in life when appropriate career decision are taken early which makes them to contribute towards national development but failure to make the right career choice may lead to frustration, unhappiness and disapproval by the society and difficulty in coping with life tasks. It is at this point that the researcher found it interesting to carryout a research on the role of parents as a career counselor of their adolescent children.

Statement of the Problem

        Middleton and Loughead stated that the occupation choice or career choice of adolescent youths have become an area of interest to educational planners, educational psychologist. This is as a result of the awareness by stakeholders of the inherent dangers and frustration suffered by the young adolescents who find themselves in wrong occupations. Consequently, educational authorities have realized the need for schools and parents to be a representative as a career counselors who would help the adolescents to select an appropriate career in line with their capabilities. According to Campbell 2004, the choice of a particular career is influenced by certain factors among which are parental influence and peer group influence because they play an important role in the development of the adolescent. It has been observed that adolescent are less influenced by peers when they have close and involving relationship with their parents, the ability of peers to influence the behaviour and attitude of the adolescent is magnified when adolescent perceive that their parental relationship is negative or deficient in support and guidance (Middleton and Loghead 2006). Consequently, by default when there is an expanded distance between parents and their adolescent children, the later more likely will be shaped by the impact of peers or social well being of the adolescent that the researcher was motivated to investigate the role of parents as a career counselor of their adolescent children in Orlu Local Government Area.

Objective of the Study

The main objective of the study will be to determine the role of parents as a career counselor of their adolescent children. In specific, the objectives of the study were:

1. To ascertain the relationship between adolescent of various ages in Orlu Local Government Area in their knowledge of the role of their parents as a career counselor.
2. To determine the association between male and female adolescent in Orlu Local Government Area in their knowledge of the benefits derived from their parents as a career counselor.
3. To find out the relationship between catholic and non-Catholic adolescent children in Orlu Local Government Area in their knowledge of the effects of their parents as a career counselor.

Significance of the Study

On the completion of this study on the role of parents as a career counselor of their adolescent children, the parents, schools, teachers, counselors and the adolescent youths will be able to understand what career counseling is all about the role of career counselor, it’s benefits to adolescent and their negative effects of parents as a career counselor.

Research Questions

The following research questions are essential in order to enable the researcher handle their research study adequately:

1. Are there any relationship between adolescent of various ages in Orlu Local Government Area in their knowledge of the role of their parents as a career counselor?
2. What is the association between male and female adolescent in Orlu Local Government Area in their knowledge of the benefit derived from their parents as a career counselor?
3. Are there any relationship between catholic and non-catholic adolescent children in Orlu Local Government Area of the effects of their parents as a career counselor?

Scope of the Study

The research study is delimited to the roles of parents as a career counselor of their adolescent children in Orlu Local Government Area. It is delimited to adolescent youths of various ages. It is delimited to male and female adolescent as well as catholic and non-catholic adolescents.

Operational Definition of Terms

Career Counselor: Is a specialty within the profession of counseling that fosters vocational choice and development.

Adolescents: Is a process of growth and development during which an individual learns the attitudes, skills and beliefs of the society so as to function within the society.

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