Gender, Identity Status and Career Maturity of Adolescents in Southwest Nigeria

This study investigated the relationship between identity status and career maturity of secondary school adolescents. Five hundred and eighty-one (male = 275; female = 306) senior secondary school adolescents completed the Career Maturity Inventory and the Ego Identity Status Scale. The results showed that the identity statuses significantly predicted career maturity of the adolescents but gender did not. Diffused identity status made the highest (negative) contribution to the prediction of career maturity followed by achieved and moratorium identity statuses in that order. Foreclosure identity status did not make significant contribution to the prediction of career maturity. No significant differences were found between the males and females in their career maturity and identity statuses. Implications for career counselling interventions were discussed.