Students’ Career Decision-Making Stress and Self-Regulatory Career Behaviors: Putting Off or Moving Forward?

In two multi-wave studies, we draw on self-regulation theories to explore relations between master’s students’ career decision-making stress and self-regulatory career behaviors. Study 1 ( N = 126) demonstrated that decisional stress was positively related to avoidance-oriented career behaviors, aimed at regulating negative affect. Decisional stress did not relate to approach-oriented career behaviors, aimed at making progress in the choice process. Study 2 ( N = 176) replicated these findings. Furthermore, we explored the moderating role of core self-evaluation (CSE) and peer career support. Neither of these factors moderated relations between decisional stress and self-regulatory career behaviors. Instead, CSE related directly negatively to avoidance-oriented career behaviors, and peer career support related directly positively to approach-oriented career behaviors. Avoidance- and approach-oriented career behaviors related negatively and positively to choice progress, respectively, which in turn was negatively related to subsequent decisional stress. Limitations, future directions, and implications for career counseling and theory are discussed.