Vocational identity and acceptance of change in university students
Abstract
In today’s fast-changing work environment, individuals must manage change constructively. Accepting change is rooted in the belief that those who embrace change often experience a positive impact on their professional lives and resources (Di Fabio & Gori, 2016). We aimed to examine the relationship between vocational identity and acceptance of change among students; as well as to explore differences in acceptance of change among students from different vocational fields of study. Acceptance of change and vocational identity were measured in a group of 105 students (both undergraduate and postgraduate; 62% women; mean age 22 years) from the fields of law, fire protection and teaching. Results indicate that acceptance of change, along with its change seeking aspect, is positively related to two dimensions of vocational identity: career exploration (in-depth and in-breadth). Furthermore, the support for change aspect is positively related to career exploration (in-depth) and to identification with career commitment. An aspect of acceptance of change, cognitive flexibility, shows an increasing trend with advancing years of study. These findings are beneficial since cognitive flexibility can be linked to a disposition toward critical thinking (Orakcı, 2021) representing an important quality for a university student (Buskit & Irons, 2008). Cognitive flexibility is valuable in several practical contexts, particularly in education (teachers can apply problem solving tasks or open discussions to enhance cognitive flexibility) or workplace training (cognitive flexibility is particularly valuable in dynamic industries requiring innovative solutions and adaptability to change). Cognitive flexibility and critical thinking are essential skills that help people adapt to societal changes, make informed decisions and handle complex situations at various life stages or contexts.
Keywords
acceptance of change, vocational identity, university students
How to Cite
Hudáková, M., Pašková, J., Uhláriková, J., & Sollár, T. (2025). Vocational identity and acceptance of change in university students. EWOP in Practice, 19(2), 145–163. https://doi.org/10.21825/ewopinpractice.92087
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