Career Development in Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Transitions into working life
Transitions from school into university studies, into vocational training, or into a first job are characterized by a complexity of psychological processes taking place simultaneously. We investigate the processes through which adolescents and young adults form a vocational identity and develop personal goals. At the same time, we track how well-being, mental health, and stress change during these transition phases.
Parental support
It has long been known that parents play a pivotal role in adolescents’ in career development. We examine how parents are involved in adolescents’ decision-making and what forms of support they provide. We have developed questionnaire instruments to asses various forms of parental behavior and study how these are related to adolescent vocational development.
In our applied work we collaborate with practitioners to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. One example is the involvement of parents in a school-based career guidance program.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Julia Dietrich
Collaborators: Antonia Landgraf, Prof. Dr. Bärbel Kracke (Jena)
Practice partner: https://www.parentsonboard.de/
Publications:
Landgraf, A., Dietrich, J., Bührmann, T., & Kracke, B. (in press). Elterliche Berufswahlbegleitungskompetenz – Validierung eines Erhebungsinstruments zur Erfassung elterlicher Kompetenzen zur Begleitung ihrer Kinder bei der Berufswahl. Berichte zur Beruflichen Bildung AG BFN. Preprint: https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.15513
Marttinen, E., Dietrich, J., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2018). Intentional engagement in the transition to adulthood: An integrative perspective on identity, career, and goal developmental regulation. European Psychologist, 23(4), 311–323. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000337
Symonds, J., Dietrich, J., Chow, A., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2016). Mental health improves after transition from comprehensive school to vocational education or employment in England: A national cohort study. Developmental Psychology, 52, 652-665. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0040118
Dietrich, J., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2015). Emerging adults and work: A model of phase-adequate engagement. In J. J. Arnett (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Emerging Adulthood (pp. 334–345). New York: Oxford University Press.
Dietrich, J., Andersson, H., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2014). Developmental psychologists’ perspective on pathways through school and beyond. In P. Blanchard, F. Bühlmann, & J.-A. Gauthier (Eds.), Advances in sequence analysis: Methods, theories and applications (pp. 129-150). New York: Springer.
Schindler, I., Dietrich, J., & Berg, C. A. (2014). Why collaborate with close others when choosing a college major? Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, 4, 128-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jedp.v4n1p128
Dietrich, J., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., & Kracke, B. (2013). Deciding on a college major: Commitment trajectories, career exploration, and academic well-being. Diskurs Kindheits- und Jugendforschung, 8, 305-318.
Dietrich, J., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2013). Parental involvement and adolescents’ career goal pursuit during the post-school transition. Journal of Adolescence, 36, 121-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.10.009
Sortheix, F., Dietrich, J., Chow, A., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2013). Career values and engagement in the transition from education to work. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 83, 466-475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2013.07.003
Dietrich, J., Parker, P. D., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2012). Phase-adequate engagement at the post-school transition. Developmental Psychology, 48, 1575-1593. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030188
Dietrich, J., Jokisaari, M., & Nurmi, J.-E. (2012). Work-related goal appraisals and stress during the transition from education to work. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80, 82-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.07.004
Dietrich, J. & Kracke, B. (2011). Brief report: Cross-informant ratings of self- and other-regulation at career transitions in adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 34, 1097-1101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.05.017
Dietrich, J., Kracke, B., & Nurmi, J.-E. (2011). Parents’ role in adolescents’ decision on a college major: A weekly diary study. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79, 134-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.12.003
Noack, P., Kracke, B., Gniewosz, B., & Dietrich, J. (2010). Parental and school effects on students’ occupational exploration: A longitudinal and multilevel analysis. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 77, 50-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.02.006
Dietrich, J. & Kracke, B. (2009). Career-specific parental behaviors in adolescents’ development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75, 109-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2009.03.005
Presse
Eigeninitiative stärker fördern (FAZ Verlagsspezial Abitur, was dann?, 08.03.2025)
Motivation in der Berufsorientierung: „Gemeinsam mit dem Kind, nicht für das Kind“
