Influence of mothers' positive parenting on adolescents' future orientation: Mediating role of career self-efficacy

Indonesia is expected to benefit from a demographic transition that will result in a large proportion of the population entering the workforce by 2045, with approximately 70% of its population falling within the working-age population. To capitalize on this opportunity, high-quality education and effective family socialization are essential to prepare a capable generation for future leadership. Previous studies have demonstrated that positive parenting (PoPa) significantly influences adolescents' future orientation, primarily through career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE), which refers to adolescents' confidence in their ability to make career-related decisions and plays an important role in managing educational and vocational challenges. This study investigates the relationship between mothers' perceptions of PoPa and adolescents' future orientation, with CDMSE examined as a psychological mechanism mediating this relationship, in Bandung Regency, Indonesia. Utilizing a quantitative approach, data were collected from 536 adolescents (223 males and 313 females, aged 16-17) using standardized questionnaires assessing PoPa, CDMSE, and future orientation. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using LISREL version 8.8 was employed to examine the simultaneous relationships among variables, including both direct and indirect effects. In this study, SEM was used to test how perceived positive parenting (PoPa) influences adolescents' future orientation, both directly and indirectly through the mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE). The findings indicate that PoPa exerts both direct and indirect effects on adolescents' future orientation through CDMSE, underscoring the importance of maternal positive parenting practices in fostering adolescents' confidence in career decision-making and their orientation toward future goals.