Development and Psychometric Validation of the Career Identity Questionnaire for Vocational School Students

This study presents the development and psychometric validation of a Career Identity Questionnaire for vocational school students aged 15-19 years. Career identity was conceptualized as comprising career exploration and career commitment, based on theories of identity development and career guidance. Two studies were conducted. In Study 1 (N = 188), principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the final structure of the questionnaire. From an initial pool of 20 items, 14 items were retained: 8 items for career exploration and 6 items for career commitment. The two scales were positively correlated (r = 0.48, p < 0.01), with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.78 and 0.88, respectively. In Study 2 (N = 293), convergent and structural validity were examined using correlation analysis, canonical correlation, ANOVA, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The CFA supported a three-factor structure consisting of exploration within the educational profile, exploration outside the educational profile, and career commitment. Career exploration correlated with school satisfaction (r = 0.31), subjective well-being (r = 0.26), and school success (r = 0.14), while career commitment showed stronger associations with the same variables (r = 0.56, 0.27, and 0.15, all p < 0.01). Canonical correlation analysis indicated significant relationships between career identity dimensions and mental health, with the strongest weights observed for career commitment (r_s = -0.96) and career exploration (r_s = -0.60), explaining 14% of the variance in mental health, while mental health explained 23% of the variance in career identity. Students with below-average values of commitment and exploration reported lower school success, satisfaction, and well-being. The findings provide evidence for the reliability and validity of the questionnaire, supporting its use in both research and practice in educational settings.