Relationship Between Adolescent–Parent Career Congruency, Self-Esteem and Mental Well-Being

Abstract

Background: Career decision-making during late adolescence occurs within a complex interplay of individual aspirations and parental expectations, particularly in collectivistic societies such as Pakistan where family involvement remains central. Misalignment between adolescents’ career preferences and parental support may have implications for psychological functioning, including self-esteem and mental well-being. Objective: To examine the relationships among adolescent–parent career congruence, self-esteem, and mental well-being in late adolescent university students, and to explore whether these relationships differ by gender. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 207 undergraduate students aged 18–22 years enrolled in universities in Lahore, Pakistan. Participants completed standardized self-report measures, including the Adolescent–Parent Career Congruence Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Pearson correlation analyses were used to assess associations among variables, and independent-samples t-tests examined gender differences. Results: Adolescent–parent career congruence was positively associated with self-esteem (r=0.332, p<0.001) and mental well-being (r=0.359, p<0.001). Self-esteem demonstrated a strong positive association with mental well-being (r=0.623, p<0.001). No statistically significant gender differences were observed in mean levels of career congruence, self-esteem, or mental well-being. Conclusion: Greater perceived alignment between adolescents and parents regarding career choices is associated with higher self-esteem and improved mental well-being among Pakistani university students. These findings highlight the psychological relevance of supportive parent–adolescent dynamics during career development in late adolescence.