Empirical Analysis of the Predictors of Career Indecision Among Final-Year University Students in South South Nigeria

Career indecision among final-year university students in Nigeria is prevalent and professionally significant, yet its specific predictors within the South South geopolitical context, where labour market and family cultural factors are distinctive, have received limited empirical attention. This study empirically analysed the predictors of career indecision among final-year students at the University of Benin and University of Port Harcourt, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 final-year students from four faculties at each institution, using stratified random sampling. Career indecision was measured using the Career Decision Scale, and a comprehensive set of predictor variables was assessed including vocational identity, career self-efficacy, career exploration, parental career influence, employment anxiety, and academic major-career congruence. Hierarchical regression analysis was applied. Results showed that career indecision prevalence was 58.3 percent at a clinical threshold. Vocational identity (beta = -0.48, p < 0.001) and career self-efficacy (beta = -0.42, p < 0.001) were the strongest negative predictors. Parental pressure toward specific careers was a significant positive predictor (beta = 0.34, p < 0.001). Employment anxiety accounted for unique variance beyond career self-efficacy (beta = 0.27, p < 0.01). The model explained 52.7 percent of variance in career indecision. The study fills an important gap in South South Nigerian career development research and recommends an identity-focused career counselling model addressing both self-efficacy and parental influence factors. Keywords: career indecision, final-year students, career self-efficacy, South South Nigeria, career counselling