By Dr Moyosola Jude Akomolafe & Tosin Emmanuel Akinduyo
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between personality traits and career maturity among secondary school students in Ondo State, Nigeria. Three research questions were raised to guide the study. The descriptive research design of survey type was adopted for the study. The population comprised ten thousand and ninety three secondary school students. Stratified random sampling technique was used in the selection of three hundred and fifty students for the study. Career Maturity Inventory (CMI) and Big Five Inventory (BFI) were used for data collection. The instruments were validated and the reliability coefficients of CMI and BFI were .73 and .80 respectively for this study. Data collected were analysed using correlation and multiple regression analyses. Results showed that five personality traits jointly and significantly predicted career maturity of secondary school students. Extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experience positively and significantly predicted career maturity of students. However, neuroticism personality trait had a negative and significant predictive capacity on career maturity. It was concluded that personality traits were significant factors influencing career maturity of secondary school students. It was recommended that parents, teachers and school administrators should provide healthy environment that would help students develop appropriate personality traits that would enhance their career maturity.