Depression and career choice in matriculants in South Africa

M.A.In the face of economic hardship, social, political and cultural change, matriculants in South Africa are confronted with increased pressure when exploring and deciding on their career paths. This task in itself is complex and is expected to culminate in a career decision upon leaving school, even when subject to these and other extrinsic limitations over which the individual has no control. For example, the serious lack of career guidance programs in the large majority of our schools (Mathabe & Temane, 1993). Regardless, school pupils in South Africa are expected to make their preliminary choice in Standard 7 when they choose their matric subjects. Three years later they are expected to leave school with a career decision. These same individuals are also struggling to meet the challenges of adolescence and are searching for an identity they can call their own. It is surmised that those pupils who have not yet made a career decision are more likely to experience feelings of depression than those with definite career plans. This study regarding the relationship between depressive symptomatology and career choice, had the following objectives: A comprehensive literature review focusing on depression, depressive symptomatology, the aetiology of depression, theory and research with reference to the adolescent in particular. A further literature review focusing on various theories of career choice and research with particular reference to career indecision. A quantitative and qualitative investigation of career choice and depressive symptomatology in matriculants in South Africa. The initial part of the study focuses on the theoretical review of depressive symptomatology and career choice, to firstly define the concepts as operationalised in this study and secondly to explore the theory and research to date with reference to the factors contributing to and maintaining feelings of depression and career indecision in adolescents. The researcher reviews and discusses phenominological differences and similarities between the adult and adolescent experience of depression, with particular reference to depressive symptomatology, the approach used in this research. Career choice is also defined and discussed with reference to the developmental stage of adolescence. Various theoretical approaches with regard to depression and career choice are reviewed and discussed. Identity development, and the related concepts of self esteem and self efficacy are discussed, as well as the role of cultural factors, with reference to both depressive symptomatology and career indecision Matriculants from four different regions in Gauteng took part in the study. The sample comprised pupils from both genders and various population groups. Each pupil filled in a questionnaire developed by the researcher, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Career Decision Scale (CDS). The data collected from the self developed questionnaire provided insight into various factors of career choice such as realistic goals and dream goals, perceived restrictions and elements of self esteem. This data was described and interpreted in a qualitative analysis and from such the researcher inferred predominant themes and concepts with suggested avenues for further research. The quantitative data collected from the results of the BDI and CDS were statistically described and analyzed. From this data the statistically significant findings were presented and discussed with reference to theory and research. The researcher found that depressive symptomatology and career indecision are significantly related with the incidence of feelings of depression being related to career indecision and career indecision possibly giving rise to symptoms of depression. The study can be criticized for not including a measure of self esteem, a factor closely related to depressive symptomatology and career choice. A further criticism is that the most highly represented cultural groups were the English and Zulu speaking pupils, future studies should include pupils from all cultural groups. The qualitative analysis is subject to an interpretative bias, which may be subjective and influenced by the researcher's own views. The recommendations that were made as a result of this study are as follows: More research is needed into career choice and the incidence of depressive symptomatology with coenizance of levels of self esteem, a more representative sample and perceptions as regards career choice and limitations to certain vocations. The implied direction of the relation between career indecision and depressive symptomatology requires in depth research to further investigate the findings of this research. If career indecision does indeed give rise to feelings of depression, then programs that are being developed and those that are already in place should take cognizance of these results and include preventative measures in any future programs. The implied higher incidence of depressive symptomatology and career indecision in the black population requires further investigation and if the findings in this study are further supported, preventative action is desperately needed. Fifty percent of the pupils show signs of moderate to severe depression. Further research is needed to reaffirm these results and, if substantiated, urgent preventative measures should be taken