THE IMPACT OF FAMILY PRESSURE ON CAREER DECISION-MAKING AMONG WOMEN IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study explored how family pressure relates to career decision-making among Pakistani women, using Social Cognitive Career Theory as a framework. Data were gathered from 150 female university students through a cross-sectional, correlational design and convenience sampling. Three standardized tools were used: The Family Influence Scale, The Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form, and the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire. Results showed that higher family pressure was strongly linked to lower career decision self-efficacy (r = −.816) and greater career decision-making difficulties (r = .866), while self-efficacy and difficulties were themselves strongly negatively related (r = −.707). Regression analysis confirmed family pressure as a significant negative predictor of self-efficacy, explaining about 66.5% of the variance (R² = .665, F = 293.899). Reliability was adequate for the self-efficacy and difficulties scales (α = .705, .739) but notably poor for the Family Influence Scale (α = .131), so family-pressure findings should be interpreted with caution. Overall, greater perceived family pressure was associated with lower career confidence and more career-related difficulty among Pakistani women. Implications for counselors, educators, and families are discussed, along with the need for more reliable measures in future research.