Ecology of Children's Career Development: A Review of the Literature

Taveira, Maria do Ceu; Oliveira, Íris Martins; Araújo, Alexandra Mendes

doi:10.1590/0102.3772e32411

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Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa

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Sumário

ORIGINAL ARTICLE • Psic.: Teor. e Pesq. 32 (04) • 2016 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e32411 copy

Ecology of Children's Career Development: A Review of the Literature

Ecologia do Desenvolvimento Profissional das Crianças: Uma Revisão da Literatura

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Previous efforts to elaborate an organizing framework for the study of children's career development identified its main dimensions and processes. However, the existing literature on children's ecological subsystems is scarce. This article presents a literature review of the context of children's career development. Based on Bronfenbrenner's theory, 36 eligible articles covered the following subjects: the microsystems family and school; the mesosystems family-school/peer-school relations and antecedents of transitions; the exosystems parents' work situation, social class, curriculum and teachers' professional development; the macrosystems ethnicity and culture; and the chronosystems passage of time over the life-course and across generations. An ecological perspective can be included in an organizing framework of children's careers and support further research and intervention. Empirical and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords:
career development; children; bioecological model

Author(s)	Ecological level(s)	Type of article	Topic(s) covered	Research method(s)
Aguiar and Conceição (2011)Aguiar, F. H., & Conceição, M. I. (2011). Orientação vocacional como tema transversal: Uma experiência com profissionais da educação [Vocational guidance as a cross-curricular theme: An experience with professionals in education]. Revista Brasileira de Orientação Profissional, 12(1), 107-117.	Exosystem	Experience report	Teachers’ professional development	Qualitative procedures to evaluate the experience
Anyadike-Danes and McVicar (2005)Anyadike-Danes, M., & McVicar, D. (2005). You'll never walk alone: Childhood influences and male career path clusters. Labour Economics, 12, 511- 530. doi:10.1016/j.labeco.2005.05.008 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2005.05...	Mesosystem	Empirical study	Antecedents of adult work situation	Quantitative retrospective longitudinal sequence and correlational methods
Bayraktar (2011)Bayraktar, A. (2011). Possible effects of gender on teacher-student interactions. Procedia Social and Behavioural Sciences, 15, 2545-2548. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04.142 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.04...	Microsystem	Empirical study	Teacher-student interactions and gender differences	Mixed-method research design in case studies
Brown (2004)Brown, M. T. (2004). The career development influence of family of origin: Considerations of race/ethnic group membership and class. The Counseling Psychologist, 32, 587-595. doi:10.1177/0011000004266007 https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000004266007...	Exosystem and macrosystem	Theoretical article	Socioeconomic status and ethnicity of the child’s family	Critical comments based on published works
Bryant, Zvonkovic, and Reynolds (2006)Bryant, B. K., Zvonkovic, A. M., & Reynolds, P. (2006). Parenting in relation to child and adolescent vocational development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 69, 149-175. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2006.02.004 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2006.02.00...	Microsystem	Literature review	Correlates of parenting variables and career development processes	Review of published works
Creed, Conlon, and Zimmer-Gembeck (2007)Creed, P. A., Conlon, E. G., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (2007). Career barriers and reading ability as correlates of career aspirations and expectations of parents and their children. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 70, 242-258. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2006.11.001 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2006.11.00...	Microsystem	Empirical study	Parents’ and children’ career aspirations and expectations	Quantitative cross-sectional prediction methods
Ek, Sovio, Remes, and Järvelin (2005)Ek, E., Sovio, U., Remes, J., & Järvelin, M. (2005). Social predictors of unsuccessful entrance into the labour market: A socialization process perspective. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66, 471-486. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2004.02.002 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2004.02.00...	Mesosystem	Empirical study	Antecedents of adult unemployment	Quantitative longitudinal prediction methods
Ferreira, Santos, Fonseca, and Haase (2007)Ferreira, J. A., Santos, E. J., Fonseca, A. C., & Haase, R. (2007). Early predictors of career development: A 10-year follow-up study. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 70, 61-77. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2006.04.006 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2006.04.00...	Exosystem	Empirical study	Predictors of educational and occupational socialization process	Quantitative longitudinal prediction methods
Fouad et al. (2010)Fouad, N. A., Hackett, G., Smith, P. L., Kantamneni, N., Fitzpatrick, M., Haag, S., & Spencer, D. (2010). Barriers and supports for continuing in mathematics and science: Gender and educational level differences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 77, 361-373. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2010.06.004 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.06.00...	Microsystem	Empirical study	Barriers and supports to students’ careers	Quantitative cross-sectional factor methods
Fulcher (2011)Fulcher, M. (2011). Individual differences in children's occupational aspirations as a function of parental traditionality. Sex Roles, 64, 117-131. doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9854-7 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-010-9854-...	Microsystem	Empirical study	Mothers’ influence on children’s self-efficacy expectations and aspirations	Quantitative cross-sectional confirmatory methods
Gonçalves and Coimbra (2007)Gonçalves, C. M., & Coimbra, J. L. (2007). O papel dos pais na construção de trajetórias vocacionais dos seus filhos [Parents' role in the construction of their children's career]. Revista Brasileira de Orientação Profissional 8(1), 1-17.	Microsystem	Empirical study	Parents’ influence in their offspring career development	Qualitative and narrative methods
Helwig (2004)Helwig, A. A. (2004). A ten-year study of the career development of students: Summary findings. Journal of Counselling and Development, 82, 49-57. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2004.tb00285.x https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2004...	Chronosystem	Empirical study	Passage of time over the life course and career development	Mixed-method longitudinal research design
Hirschi (2011)Hirschi, A. (2011). Career-choice readiness in adolescence: Developmental trajectories and individual differences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79, 340-348. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2011.05.005 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.05.00...	Chronosystem	Empirical study	Trajectories of career-choice readiness	Quantitative longitudinal confirmatory methods
Howard, Ferrari, Nota, Solberg, and Soresi (2009)Howard, K. A., Ferrari, L., Nota, L., Solberg, V. S. & Soresi, S. (2009). The relation of cultural context and social relationships to career development in middle school. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75, 100-108. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.06.013 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2009.06.01...	Mesosystem	Empirical study	Supportive relationships in children’s career development	Quantitative cross-sectional confirmatory methods
Hughes (2011)Hughes, J. M. (2011). Influence of discrimination awareness on the occupational interests of African American children. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 32, 369-378. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2011.08.003 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2011.08...	Macrosystem	Empirical study	Children’s ethnical discrimination awareness and aspirations	Quantitative experimental prediction methods
Kendig, Mattingly, and Bianchi, 2014Kendig, S. M., Mattingly, M. J., & Bianchi, S. M. (2014). Childhood poverty and the transition to adulthood. Family Relations, 63(2), 271-286. doi: 10.1111/fare.12061 https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12061...	Exosystem	Empirical study	Influence of childhood poverty in adulthood	Quantitative longitudinal mean differences methods
Kern and Friedman (2008)Kern, M. L., & Friedman, H. S. (2008). Early educational milestones as predictors of lifelong academic achievement, midlife adjustment, and longevity. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 30, 419-430. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2008.12.025 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2008.12...	Mesosystem	Empirical study	Antecedents of later academic and life adjustment	Quantitative longitudinal prediction methods
Kingery and Erdley (2007)Kingery, J. N., & Erdley, C. A. (2007). Peer experiences as predictors of adjustment across the middle school transition. Education and Treatment of Children, 30, 73-88. doi:10.1353/etc.2007.0007 https://doi.org/10.1353/etc.2007.0007...	Mesosystem	Empirical study	Peers and children’s academic adjustment	Quantitative longitudinal prediction methods
Kuijpers, Meijers, and Gundy (2011)Kuijpers, M., Meijers, F. & Gundy, C. (2011). The relationship between learning environment and career competences of students in vocational education. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 78, 21-30. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2010.05.005 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.05.00...	Exosystem	Empirical study	Curriculum applications in students’ career competences	Quantitative cross-sectional prediction methods
Lerkkanen et al. (2012)Lerkkanen, M., Kiuru, N., Pakarinen, E., Viljaranta, J., Poikkeus, A., Rasku-Puttonen, H., ... Nurmi, J. (2012). The role of teaching practices in the development of children's interest in reading and mathematics in kindergarten. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 37, 266-279. doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2011.03.004 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2011....	Microsystem	Empirical study	Influence of teachers’ practices in children’s interest	Quantitative longitudinal confirmatory methods
Liu, McMahon, and Watson (2014)Liu, J., McMahon, M., & Watson, M. (2014). Childhood career development in Mainland China: A research and practice agenda. The Career Development Quarterly, 62, 268-279. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2014.00084.x https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2014...	Macrosystem	Report	Children’s career development in Mainland China	Critical comments based on published works
Mouta and Nascimento (2008)Mouta, A. & Nascimento, I. (2008). Os (novos) interlocutores no desenvolvimento vocacional de jovens: Uma experiência de consultoria a professores [Teachers as (new) interlocutors in the vocational development of young people: An experience of consultation]. Revista Brasileira de Orientação Profissional, 9(1), 87-101.	Exosystem	Experience report	Teachers’ professional development	Notes about the experience
Nazli (2007)Nazli, S. (2007). Career development in primary school children. Career Development International, 12, 446-462. doi:10.1108/13620430710773763 https://doi.org/10.1108/1362043071077376...	Mesosystem	Empirical study	Description of children’s career development	Qualitative exploratory-descriptive methods
Nazli (2014)Nazli, S. (2014). Career development of upper primary school students in Turkey. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 24, 49-61. doi:10.1017/jgc.2013.7 https://doi.org/10.1017/jgc.2013.7...	Macrosystem	Empirical study	Turkish children’s career development	Qualitative exploratory-descriptive methods
Noack, Kracke, Gniewosz, and Dietrich (2010)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. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2010.02.006 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.02.00...	Microsystem	Empirical study	Family and school correlates of students’ career exploration	Quantitative longitudinal confirmatory methods
Oketch, Mutisya, and Sagwe (2012)Oketch, M., Mutisya, M., & Sagwe, J. (2012). Parental aspirations for their children's educational attainment and the realization of universal primary education (UPE) in Kenya: Evidence from slum and non-slum residences. International Journal of Educational Development, 32, 764-772. doi:10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.04.002 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011....	Exosystem	Empirical study	Slum and non-slum children’s and parents’ aspirations	Quantitative cross-sectional prediction methods
Porfeli, Ferrari, and Nota (2012)Porfeli, E. J., Ferrari, L., & Nota, L. (2012). Work valence as a predictor of academic achievement in the family context. Journal of Career Development, 40, 371-389. doi:10.1177/0894845312460579 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845312460579...	Microsystem	Empirical study	Family and children’s work valences	Quantitative cross-sectional confirmatory methods
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Schmitt-Wilson and Welsh (2012)Schmitt-Wilson, S., & Welsh, M. C. (2012). Vocational knowledge in rural children: A study of individual differences and predictors of occupational aspirations and expectations. Learning and Individual Differences, 22, 862-867. doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2012.06.003 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2012.06...	Exosystem	Empirical study	Vocational knowledge, academic achievement, and occupational aspirations of rural children	Quantitative cross-sectional prediction methods
Schoon, Martin, and Ross (2007)Schoon, I., Martin, P., & Ross, A. (2007). Career transitions in times of social change. His and her story. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 70, 78-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2006.04.009 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2006.04.00...	Chronosystem	Empirical study	Cohort and historical time differences in career development	Quantitative cohort-sequential longitudinal confirmatory methods
Schuette, Ponton, and Charlton (2012)Schuette, C. T., Ponton, M. K., & Charlton, M. L. (2012). Middle school children's career aspirations: Relationship to adult occupations and gender. The Career Development Quarterly, 60, 36-46. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2012.00004.x https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2012...	Microsystem	Empirical study	Parents’ occupations and children’s aspirations	Mixed-method research design
Schultheiss, Palma, and Manzi (2005)Schultheiss, D., Palma, T., & Manzi, A. (2005). Career development in middle childhood: A qualitative inquiry. The Career Development Quarterly, 53, 246-252. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2005.tb00994.x https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2005...	Mesosystem	Empirical study	Description of children’s career development	Qualitative exploratory-descriptive methods
Sobral, Gonçalves, and Coimbra (2009)Sobral, J., Gonçalves, C., & Coimbra. J. (2009). A influência da situação profissional parental no desenvolvimento vocacional dos adolescentes [The influence of parental occupational situation on adolescents' vocational development]. Revista Brasileira de Orientação Profissional, 10(1), 11-22.	Exosystem	Empirical study	Parents’ work situation and offspring career development	Quantitative cross-sectional mean differences methods
Tenenbaum, Porche, Snow, Tabors, and Ross (2007)Tenenbaum, H. R., Porche, M. V., Snow, C. E., Tabors, P., & Ross, S. (2007). Maternal and child predictors of low-income children's educational attainment. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 28, 227-238. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2007.02.002 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2007.02...	Microsystem	Empirical study	Mother-child interactions and children’s academic engagement and career intentions	Quantitative longitudinal prediction methods
Tracey, Lent, Brown, Soresi, and Nota (2006)Tracey, T. J., Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., Soresi, S., & Nota, L. (2006). Adherence to RIASEC structure in relation to career exploration and parenting style: Longitudinal and idiothetic considerations. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 69, 248-261. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2006.02.001 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2006.02.00...	Microsystem	Empirical study	Parenting style and children’s career exploration and interests	Quantitative longitudinal confirmatory methods
Watson, McMahon, Foxcroft, and Els (2010)Watson, M., McMahon, M., Foxcroft, C., & Els, C. (2010). Occupational aspirations of low socioeconomic black South-African children. Journal of Career Development, 37, 717-734. doi:10.1177/0894845309359351 https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845309359351...	Macrosystem	Empirical study	Occupational aspirations of Black South-African children	Qualitative exploratory-descriptive methods

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