Career-Related Teacher Support Scale: Validation Among Italian Adolescents and Assessment of the Effect on Career Decision Self-Efficacy Through Career Adaptability

Teachers have a key role in adolescents’ career development. Nevertheless, few studies examined their effect on career outcomes. The present study has two objectives. First, to test the factorial structure of the Italian version of the Career-related Teacher Support Scale (CRTSS) with Italian adolescents. Second, to test how career-related teacher support leads to career decision self-efficacy through career adaptability. In Study I, 469 adolescents were asked to complete the CRTSS. A first-order model, a second-order model (hierarchical), a bi-factor model (hierarchical), and a single-factor model were compared to check the best model solution. Additionally, the measurement invariance was examined across male and female. Results reveal the superiority of the second-order (hierarchical) model and the invariance between males and females. In the Study II took part 228 adolescents. A structural equation modeling approach assessed the relationship between career-related teacher support, career adaptability and career decision self-efficacy. A mediation model showed a significant indirect effect of career-related teacher support on decision self-efficacy through career adaptability. Practical implications for interventions were discussed.