Influence of Home Background, Family Relationship and Individual Motivation on the Career Choice of Secondary School Students in South-west Nigeria

The study examinedinfluence of home background, family relationship and individual motivation on the career choice of Secondary School Students in South-west Nigeria.The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Using a random sampling technique, 692 female and 508 male senior secondary school students in the South-west of Nigeria were randomly selected to fill a self-developed questionnaire on Career Choice Family Background and Individual Motivation Rating Scale (CCFBIM). Reliability coefficient of the instrument is 0.89. Two research questions were tested using Multiple Regression Analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Findingsrevealed home variables, family relationship and individual motivation have a positive influence on career choice. Mother relationship (Beta=.135, t= 6.94, p<.05), sibling relationship (Beta=.121, t= 5.46, p<.05), motivation (Beta=.123, t=4.88, p<.05), socio-economic status (Beta =.192, t=3.64, p<.05), parental educational level (Beta =.011, t=2.01, p<.05) and father relationship (Beta=.152, t=1.88, p<.05). Recommendations include home and school authorities at all levels to work together in harmony to facilitate the career decision process of the student from planning to the implementation stage. Students should be allowed to interact with the world of works and learn from such experientially the most suitable career to pursue.