Trend Analysis of Research on Adolescents’ Career and Academic Issues in Counseling Psychology in Korea (2000-2024)

This study aims to analyze the research trends of adolescents’ career and academic issues in the counseling field and to suggest future research directions. Eighty journal articles published between December 2000 and July 2024 were analyzed, focusing on the period, subjects, methods, variables, and topics of research. The findings revealed that studies on adolescents’ career and academic issues have steadily increased since 2000, peaking between 2020 and 2024. The largest proportion of studies (40%) targeted high school students, followed by university students, middle school students, and other youth groups. Quantitative research was the most common method of research (81%), followed by qualitative research, mixed methods research, and literature-based research. Among 31 studies that examined the relationship between career- and academic-related variables, adaptive readiness was the most frequently used career-related variable, followed by adapting responses, adaptability resources, adaptation results, and others. Learning outcomes and behaviors were the most frequently used academic-related variables, followed by self-concept and motivation, emotions, and environmental variables. In the qualitative studies, the key topics included the exploration of characteristics for specific participants and crisis and coping experiences. On the basis of these findings, this study suggests future research directions for adolescents’ career and academic counseling.