Renato Gomes Carvalho, Margarida Pocinho, Débora Fernandes
Research literature has been increasingly focusing on children’s career development, especially when school contexts are considered. In the present study, we evaluate the efficacy of a short-term intervention program designed to foster career awareness in elementary school. The sample consisted of 155 Portuguese fifth- and sixth-grade students, aged nine to fifteen years old (M = 11, SD = 1). With a quasi-experimental design, the sample was divided into two groups, namely, the participants in the program and the controls. We used the Career Awareness Scale for Children and a sociodemographic survey. Analyses of covariance indicated a moderate effect of the participation in the program in students’ career awareness (ηp2 = .06, p = .003). The results are discussed considering the school as a key context for career education aiming at promoting students’ adaptability and involvement in the construction of their life pathways.