Influences in career choice in clinical and non-clinical psychology: the role of trauma

Abstract

This study intended to investigate the influences that accompany someone´s career choice in Psychology, as well as to verify if trauma or adverse experiences contribute to this same choice. The sample included 204 subjects with professional training in psychology, divided into two groups (clinical and non-clinical). For data collection we used the questionnaire Influences on Becoming a Therapist-IBT, adapted for Portugal in the present research, the EADS-21, Portuguese version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, the ESAF- Scale about Happiness, and the ECA, Portuguese version of the Centrality of Event Scale. Results suggest, in both groups, positive and negative significant associations between variables, with specificities associated with each group. Also, it was found in the total sample of subjects that the Centrality of the Event explains 6% of Psychopathology and 12% of the range of Experiences that Influence the Career Choice in Psychology of the IBT Scale. Experiences, on the other hand, explain 14% of the Centrality of the Event and 4% of Psychopathology. Furthermore, it was possible to identity differences in what concerned the Motivations that Influence Career Choices in Psychology and in the age groups, in both groups of Psychologists. The results allow us to conclude on the importance of the career path prior to professional choice and suggest the need for more research on the impact of trauma and motivations not only on career choice but also on career development and quality.

Keywords

• influências
• escolha da carreira
• centralidade do evento traumático
• psicopatologia
• felicidade