Parental interference in adolescents' choices and depressive symptoms: the role of self-efficacy, school anxiety, engagement, and burnout in a structural equation model

• Autores: Angelini Giacomo, Buonomo Ilaria, Fiorilli Caterina
• Localización: European Journal of Psychology of Education, ISSN-e 1878-5174, ISSN 0256-2928, Vol. 41, Nº 1, 2026
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1007/s10212-025-01060-3
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • Adolescence is a critical developmental stage characterized by major changes that increase vulnerability to depressive symptoms. Parental interference in career decisions can increase the risk of depressive symptoms among adolescents. This study examined the relationship between parental interference in career choices, depressive symptoms, career decision self-efficacy, school anxiety, school engagement, and school burnout. Data were collected in Italy in 2024 from a sample of 300 high school students (Mage = 17.44 years, SD = 1.17; 51.3% female). Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring parental interference (Parental Career-related Behavior Questionnaire), career decision-making self-efficacy (Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form), school anxiety (Test Anxiety Inventory), school engagement (Utrecht Work Engagement Scale), school burnout (Burnout Assessment Tool–Core Symptoms), and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale). A structural equation model revealed a significant total effect, indicating that career-related parental interference was positively associated with depressive symptoms. Additionally, parental interference showed a negative correlation with career decision self-efficacy and school engagement while being positively correlated to school anxiety and school burnout, which, in turn, was associated with depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that parental interference contributes to depressive symptoms both directly and indirectly (R2 = 0.394). These results provide valuable insights for student counseling interventions and parental training programs aimed at reducing depressive symptoms linked to parental involvement in adolescents’ career decision-making.

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