Contextual and Psychological Determinants of Career Decision-Making: Validation, Interventions, and Implications for Sustainable Employability in Young Adults at Risk of Fragility

This doctoral thesis investigates the contextual and psychological determinants of career decision making among young adults, with particular attention to individuals at risk of social and educational fragility, including those exposed to vulnerability, disengagement, and exclusion from education or work pathways. The thesis adopts a cumulative and multi method approach that combines psychometric validation, longitudinal analysis, and intervention oriented research. Studies 1a and 1b focus on the validation of two key instruments in the Italian context, namely the Career Decidedness Scale and the Facilitating Conditions for School Motivation Scale. These studies provide reliable and culturally grounded tools for assessing both psychological and contextual dimensions of career development. Study 2 examines the interaction between contextual resources and psychological mechanisms in shaping career decidedness over time. Using a longitudinal design, it shows that facilitating conditions influence career decidedness primarily through career decision making self efficacy, while career optimism strengthens these processes. Study 3 presents SupportSphere, a European Erasmus+ project designed to prevent vocational education and training students from becoming NEET. The project translates empirical evidence into a multi stakeholder support system aimed at strengthening employability through interventions targeting students, teachers, peers, and families. Study 4 explores a psycho linguistic and meta cognitive intervention for individuals with fragile literacy skills, showing how targeted support can improve self efficacy, future orientation, and employability related outcomes. Overall, the thesis highlights the importance of integrating psychological and contextual perspectives in career guidance research and practice. It offers theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions to the development of inclusive and evidence based interventions, particularly for young people at risk of exclusion. By addressing both individual resources and environmental conditions, the research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of sustainable employability and career development.