3476 - BETWEEN ANXIETY AND AGENCY: THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL COURAGE IN CAREER INDECISION

Session: 3471 - POSITIVE PSYCHOSOCIAL RESOURCES FOR CAREER COUNSELLING AND WELL-BEING.
AUTHORS:
Pajestka Grzegorz (Institute of Psychology, University of Opole ~ Opole ~ Poland) , Paszkowska-Rogacz Anna (Institute of Psychology, University of Lódz ~ Lódz ~ Poland)
Abstract text:
In recent years, the attainment of key social milestones—such as choosing a career path or securing stable employment—has become increasingly delayed. Both cultural and economic factors contribute to this trend. Rapid socioeconomic changes may heighten uncertainty and anxiety, which in turn could inhibit the transition to adulthood, for example by fostering career indecision. At the same time, individual psychological resources can buffer these effects and reduce the impact of anxiety. One such resource, psychological courage—defined as the willingness to act in spite of fear and internal conflict—remains relatively underexplored. The present study investigated the associations among psychological courage, future-related anxiety, and career indecision in emerging adulthood. Participants were 459 individuals (246 women and 213 men) aged 18 to 29 years. We hypothesized that psychological courage would be negatively, and anxiety about the future positively, related to career indecision as assessed with the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ). Furthermore, we expected that psychological courage would account for unique variance in career indecision beyond anxiety, perceived social support, and perceived status, thereby demonstrating its protective role. A series of hierarchical multiple regressions partially supported these hypotheses. Psychological courage was negatively associated with overall career indecision as well as with the subdimensions of lack of readiness and lack of information, but not with inconsistent information. These findings suggest that psychological courage may serve as an important psychological resource that supports motivational processes and promotes an active, agentic orientation toward career development.