Tariq Ahmad Bhat and Dinesh Chahal
Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh
Pages: 325-333
The current study assesses socio-emotional competence towards career maturity among
secondary school students. The study aimed to reveal if there is a significant contribution
of these skills in predicting secondary school students’ preparedness for making
decisions related to careers. One of the most important developmental components in
adolescence is socio-emotional competence (SEC), including emotional regulation,
self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal skills. Career maturity refers to the capacity
to make significant career decisions and plans during this developmental stage, enabling
them to gain insights into their potential future occupations. A random sample of 200
secondary school students was recruited from different educational institutions of
Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir. The study used a socio-emotional competence
scale developed by Mingming Zhou and Jessie Ee (2012) and a career maturity inventory
developed by Dr. Nirmala Gupta (2013). Results showed a positive relationship between
socio-emotional competence and career maturity. Students with better socio-emotional
competence have greater career decision-making self-efficacy, inculcate better planning
qualities, and achieve higher realism in the formulation of goals. Moreover, regression
analysis supported the prediction, with socio-emotional competence explaining a
substantial portion of career readiness among students. This study highlights the
importance of promoting social and emotional skills in educational environments that
can enhance career readiness. Incorporating socio-emotional learning into the course
work, schools can provide students with well-rounded skills that they need to make
informed and assertive choices about their career. The study results imply that educators,
counsellors, and policymakers must support all students in their socio-emotional
development as a foundation for career education programs—to help them succeed in
navigating transitions between careers throughout their lives.