Family influence and well-being in adolescents: a test of the career construction model of adaptation

Family dynamics have long been recognized as a key influence in shaping adolescents’ career development. Although prior research has established meaningful links between family-related factors and various well-being outcomes, further exploration is required to determine which specific aspects of family involvement have the strongest impact on adolescent well-being, and how these effects occur. This study examined these issues by investigating the role of family influence within the Career Construction Model of Adaptation (CCMA) among a sample of 712 adolescents. Specifically, links between family influence factors and life satisfaction, along with the mediating role of career adaptability were examined. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping analyses revealed that both informational and financial support from families were significant predictors of life satisfaction, operating both directly and indirectly through career adaptability.These findings extend the Career Construction Model of Adaptation to a non-Western adolescent context by highlighting informational and financial family support as key resources for life satisfaction, and they point to the value of school- and family-based career guidance efforts that deliberately strengthen these forms of support.