Career Choice Motivation as a Mediator of the Association between Perceived Parenting Style and Professional Intentions of Medical Students

Background. The career intentions of students are of great importance in the context of the acute practical problem of medical graduates’ employment in health care organisation, but their psychological factors are still understudied.

Objective. The goal was to analyse the relationship between the perceived parenting style and the career choice motivation with the career intentions of medical college students.

Study Participants. 318 students of a medical college (1–4 years of study, at the age of 15–25 years old, 83% girls) took part in the study.

Methods. A questionnaire for assessing students’ career intentions, the Career Choice Motivation Questionnaire by O.A. Sychev and T.O. Gordeeva, Russian version of the Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale by T.O. Gordeeva and colleagues.

Results. It was found that the autonomous career choice motivation is closely related to the intention to pursue a career in medicine, while the intention to change profession is positively correlated with amotivation and external motivation. At the same time, perceived parental support for autonomy shows a significant effect on intentions to work in medicine mediated through autonomous motivation.

Conclusions. The important role of career choice motivation and parental autonomy support for career intentions of medical students indicates the need to take these factors into account during vocational guidance of adolescents and their parents’ consulting.

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