A REVIEW OF PARENTAL DEMOGRAPHICS AS DETERMINANTS OF STUDENTS’ CAREER CHOICE
Keywords:
Parental Demographics, Determinants, Students’ Career ChoiceAbstract
This study makes a critical review of literature to establish a relationship between parental demographics and students’ career choice. The specific objectives were to ascertain the influence of parental educational level, parental occupation and parental income on students’ career choice. Social learning theory of career selection served as the theoretical underpinning. The theory helps to explain the interplay between parental demographics and career choices of their children in school. It specifically holds that educated parents are more informed about better career line and opportunities; hence, they would do everything possible to influence their children towards perceived right tracks. Again, such parents are better prepared to secure good jobs with higher income; hence, they can afford to provide all educational materials that their wards need in any course of study. This is unlike the illiterate/uneducated, unemployed and poor parents who would not want to encourage their children to some prestigious courses due to their exorbitant financial demands. This study concludes that when these factors are not put into consideration students are likely to be confused and experience challenges in their career choice. This study recommended amongst others that, education is a necessary empowerment that every parents need to acquire for proper and effective parenting.References
Adikwu, V.O. & Ereka, L. I. (2022). Influence of parental factors on career choice among senior secondary school students in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Integrity Journal of Education & Training, 6(4), 85-90
Aswani, J. S. (2012). Some of the home environment factors that influence educational and occupational aspirations of standards eight pupils. Unpublished Master’s Thesis, Submitted to the Kenyatta University, Kenya.
Avugla, D. K. G. (2011). Factors influencing career choice among the senior high school students in the South Tongu District of Volta Region, Ghana. Unpublished Thesis, University of Education, Ghana.
Bruce, D., & Asante, A. B. (2024). Parental background as determinant of career choice among students of University of Professional Studies, Accra, Ghana. International Journal of Research - GRANTHAALAYAH, 12(1), 86–101.
Career.com (2026). Career. Retrieved from http://www.career.com
Clutter, C. (2015). The effects of parental influence on theirchildren‘s career choices. M.Sc Thesis Submitted to the Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in education (8th ed.). London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315456539
Cooper, C., Booth, A., Varley-Campbell, J., Britten, N. & Garside, R. (2018). Defining the process to literature searching in systematic reviews: a literature review of guidance and supporting studies. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 18(85), 1-14. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0545-3
Duncan, G. J., Morris, P. A., & Rodrigues, C. (2011). Does money really matter? Estimating impacts of family income on young children's achievement with data from random-assignment experiments. Developmental Psychology, 47(5), 1263-1279.
Effiom, B. E. & Petters, J. S. (2019). Determinants of parental influence on career choice among secondary school students in Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific Research in Education, 12(3), 259-266.
Ehigbor, B. O. & Akinlosotu, T. N. (2016). Parents’ occupation as correlate of students’ career aspiration in public secondary schools in Ekpoma Metropolis. International Journal of Arts & Humanities (IJAH) Bahir Dar-Ethiopia, 5(3), 197-212. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ijah.v5i3.17
European Institute of Knowledge and Innovation (2025). Mastering the Art of Literature Search: A Step-by-Step Guide for Effective Research. Retrieved from https://eikipub.com/index.php/learning-resources/mastering-the-art-of-literature-sear ch a-step-by-step-guide-for-effective-research
Grohol, J. (2013). The use of family systems to explain and treat decision problems in late adolescence: A review. American Journal of Family Therapy, 23, 328-337.
Jimoh, S.B., Adesanya, E.O. & Shuaib, S.B. (2017). Influence of parental socio-economic status on the career choice of Unilorin Agriculture Students. Journal of Curriculum & Instruction (Special Edition) in Honour of Prof. Olubusuyi Fajemidagba, 10(2). Retrieved from https://jci-ilorin.org.ng/index.php/jci/article/view/50
Kohout, J., & Wicherski, M. (2011). Graduate study in psychology snapshot: applications, acceptances, enrollments, and degrees awarded to Master’s and Doctoral level students in U.S. and Canadian Graduate Departments of Psychology: 2008-2009. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/workforce/publications/11-grad-study/applications.pdf
Krumboltz, J.D. & Nichols, C.W. (1990). Integrating the social learning theory of career decision making, In: Walsh, W.B., Osipow, S.H., (eds). Career counselling: contemporary topic in vocational psychology. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Eribaum Associates, p. 159–92.
Krumboltz, J.D., Mitchell, A.M. & Jones, G.B. (1976). A social learning theory of career selection. The Counseling Psychologist, 6(1), 71–81.
Lahore School of Economics (LSE), Lahore, Pakistan.
Manu, Y. A. (2025). Investigating factors influencing career choice among students in girls’ senior high school in the Kumasi Metropolis. Journal of Education & Learning Technology (JELT), 6(9), 809-826. DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2025698
Mathatha, V. & Ndhlovu, D. (2018). Influence of parental education on career development of youths with intellectual disabilities in selected skills training institutions in Zambia. International Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences & Education (IJHSSE), 5(12), 142-150.
Mbagwu, M. I. & Ajaegbu, O. O. (2016). Influence of parents educational background on career choice of teenagers among senior secondary school students in Owerri. Edorium J Psychol, 2, 14–20. Doi: 10.5348/P13-2016-9-OA-3
Mudibo, S. C. (2014). Impact of parents' involvement on students' academic success in secondary schools in Kenya. Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press.
National Career Development Association (2003). Career development: A policy
Nwanchukwu, F. J. (2003). Organization and administration of guidance services. Owerri: Reliable Publishers.
Nwoke, M. B. (2017). Impact of home type, age, and gender on the anti-social behavior of secondary school students. Ife Journal of Psychological Studies, 5(2), 48–59
Obike, C.N. (2009). Sociology of Education. Lecture Monograph for PGDE students. National Teachers Institute, Kaduna State: Aba Study Center.
Osakinle, E. O. & Adegoroye, B. S. (2008). Vocational guidance and counselling. Goldprints Publishers: Lagos, Nigeria.
Pomerantz, T. (2017). Guidance and counselling introduction. U.S.A: Rend Mentally Ltd. Qualifax, C. (2016). The parent's role in career selection. Blackwell: Dublin, Ireland.
Shah, F. & Tirmazee, Z.S. (2020). Impact of parental occupation on career aspirations.
Shellenbarger, S. (2016). New directions: Fewer parents encourage kids to follow in their career footsteps. Wall Street Journal. Sept 2013.Socio-Scientific Youth Research (9th Ed.). Weinheim: Juventa.
Stinebrickner, R. & Stinebrickner, T. R. (2013). Understanding educational outcomes of students from low-income families: Evidence from a liberal arts college with a full tuition subsidy program. Journal of Human Resources, 38(3), 591-617
Taylor, J., Harris, M. & Taylor, S. (2004). Parents have their say about their college aged children’s career decisions. Journal of National Association of Colleges & Employers, 64(3), 23-35.
Udoh, N. A., & Sanni, K. B. (2012). Parental background variables and the career choice of secondary school students in Uyo local government area, Nigeria. Mediterranean journal of social sciences, 6(2), 48-57.
Zuhumben, B. P. (2024). Influence of Parent Educational Status on Career Choice of Secondary School Students in Mainland LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria. Abuja International Journal of Education (AIJE), 12(1), 67-80.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nigerian Journal of Counselling and Human Development (NJCHD)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.