Abstract
The relationship between character strengths and vocational interests was tested. In an online study, 197 thirteen to eighteen year-olds completed a questionnaire measuring character strengths and a multi-method measure for interests (questionnaire, nonverbal test, and objective personality tests). The main findings were that intellectual strengths yielded primarily relations with investigative and artistic interests. Social interests demonstrated relations with strengths of transcendence and other-directed strengths and enterprising interests with leadership strengths. The implications of the findings for practice are highlighted.
Résumé
Une approche multi-méthode de l’étude de la relation entre les forces de caractère d’adolescents et les intérêts professionnels. La relation entre les forces de caractère et les intérêts professionnels a été testée. Dans une étude en ligne, 197 sujets âgés de treize à dix-huit ans ont complété un questionnaire mesurant les forces de caractère et une mesure multi-méthode des intérêts (questionnaire, test non-verbal, et tests de personnalité objectif). Les résultats principaux montrent que les forces intellectuelles sont surtout reliées avec des intérêts de type investigateur et artistique. Les intérêts de type social sont liés avec les forces de transcendance et d’autres forces et intérêts entrepreneurial dirigé vers les forces de leadership. Les implications pour la pratique sont mises en évidence.
Zusammenfassung
Ein multimethodischer Ansatz zur Erforschung des Zusammenhangs zwischen Charakterstärken und beruflichen Interessen bei Jugendlichen. Es wurde der Zusammengang zwischen Charakterstärken und Berufsinteressen untersucht. In einer Onlinestudie haben 197 Jugendliche zwischen 13 und 17 Jahren einen Fragebogen zu Charakterstärken und eine multimethodische Testbatterie zur Erfassung von Interessen (ein Fragebogen, ein nonverbaler Test und sog. Objektive Persönlichkeitstests) bearbeitet. Hauptergebnisse waren, dass hauptsächlich intellektuelle Stärken mit intellektuell-forschenden und künstlerisch-sprachlichen Interessen zusammenhingen. Für soziale Interessen fanden sich Zusammenhänge mit Stärken der Transzendenz und solchen Stärken, die auf andere ausgerichtet sind. Unternehmerische Interessen gingen mit Stärken einher, die sich auf Führungsvermögen beziehen. Im Weiteren werden Implikationen der Ergebnisse für die Praxis vorgestellt.
Resumen
Un acercamiento multi-métodico al estudio de la relación entre las fortalezas de carácter de los adolescentes y los intereses vocacionales. La relación entre fortalezas de carácter e intereses vocacionales fue probada. En un estudio en Internet, 197 participantes entre los 13 y los 18 años completaron un cuestionario que mide las fortalezas de carácter al igual que un multi-método que determina los intereses (cuestionario, test no verbal y tests de objetivos de personalidad). Los resultados principales indican que las fortalezas intelectuales se relacionan principalmente con intereses investigativos y artísticos. Intereses sociales demostraron un vínculo con fortalezas de transcendencia y otras fortalezas mas directas. Por otro lado, los intereses de empresa corresponden a fortalezas de liderazgo. Las implicaciones de estos resultados en la practica son resaltados.
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Acknowledgments
The completion of this paper was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation with funding from the NCCR LIVES program (WR) and a program on research on positive interventions in different age groups (100014_132512/1; RTP and WR). The Schuhfried company supported this research by allowing the use of their test servers. The authors wish to thank Fabian Gander for his help with setting up the online survey and Katharina Klohe and Tracey Platt for proofreading the manuscript.
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Proyer, R.T., Sidler, N., Weber, M. et al. A multi-method approach to studying the relationship between character strengths and vocational interests in adolescents. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 12, 141–157 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-012-9223-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-012-9223-x