Psychosocial Factors Influencing Career Commitment Among Technical College Students in Plateau State

This study examines the psychosocial factors that influence career commitment among students in technical colleges in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Career commitment, the strength of a students motivation to pursue a vocational career, is a critical predictor of programme completion, professional development, and long-term occupational success. Despite its importance, the psychosocial determinants of career commitment in Nigerian technical education remain understudied. A cross-sectional survey design is adopted, drawing 280 students from 10 technical colleges in Jos North, Mangu, and Barkin Ladi local government areas. Validated instruments measure career commitment, vocational identity, self-efficacy, social support, and occupational stigma. Hierarchical multiple regression identifies the relative contribution of each psychosocial factor. Findings are expected to reveal that vocational identity strength and self-efficacy are the strongest predictors of career commitment, with occupational stigma serving as a significant negative predictor. The study also examines whether gender and programme type moderate these relationships. Recommendations include vocational identity development activities in technical college orientation programmes, self-efficacy building through mentoring, and public campaigns addressing the social stigma associated with technical careers. This study contributes original psychological evidence to career development research in Nigerian technical education and provides a foundation for designing student support interventions that strengthen career commitment in technical college populations. Keywords: psychosocial factors, career commitment, technical college, Plateau State, vocational identity