Katerina Argyropoulou - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Katerina Argyropoulou

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the Cypriot employees engage in proactive behavio... more The aim of the study was to investigate whether the Cypriot employees engage in proactive behaviors that help them develop high beliefs of self-efficacy, enjoy high levels of prosperity and performance, changing their attitude towards their work and personal life in general. More specifically, it was investigated whether Job Crafting is helping the Cypriot employees to develop self-efficacy in order to cope with various issues related to their career, and to empower their ability to organize their cognitive, relational and behavioral skills in a single path of action to achieve the targets of their career. The variables used were the three types of Job Crafting (tasks, cognitive and relational changes) and the four factors of Perceived Self-efficacy in Career (career management, career skills, flexibility and creativity at work). The sample consisted of 227 Cypriot employees of the public and private sectors, residents of all provinces of Cyprus, over the age of 25, who electronical...

International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 2016

This paper aims at highlighting a grid of career management skills which can help university stud... more This paper aims at highlighting a grid of career management skills which can help university students respond effectively to the complexity of labor market and career development, namely, career adaptability, perceived career self-efficacy beliefs and career resilience. Given that little is known so far regarding the degree to which higher education students possess and develop such skills, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate: (a) students’ perceived level of the above mentioned skills, (b) the relationships that may exist among them, and (c) possible differences in skill levels between working and non-working students. Results demonstrated relatively high scores in all skills, strong positive relationships among them as well as significant differences at scores as to students’ work status. Implications for training, career counseling interventions and further research are provided. Keywords: Higher Education; career management skills; career adaptability; perceive...

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 2018

The primary goal of this paper is to present a number of recent major theoretical and empirical a... more The primary goal of this paper is to present a number of recent major theoretical and empirical advances in the field of career decision-making since this process has been increasingly identified by experts as a relatively subjective experience. In this line, a series of conceptual shifts concerning career decision-making and the relevant fundamental problem of career indecision are described. In particular, it seems that the scope of career guidance and counseling has moved from some rigid constructs (e.g. “sources of indecision”, “decision-making styles”) to more flexible, dynamic, holistic and multi-dimensional concepts (e.g. “coping strategies”, “positive psychosocial strengths-resources”, “future time perspective”) that may support the individuals in making better career decisions in the complex world of work of the 21 st century. Another aim of the article, on the basis of the aforementioned developments, is to provide proposals for the construction of an effective model for d...

Sustainability, 2020

Continuous professional development refers to maintaining, enhancing, and broadening individuals’... more Continuous professional development refers to maintaining, enhancing, and broadening individuals’ knowledge, skills, and the personal qualities required in their professional lives. The present experimental study attempts to explore the way(s) that the Life Construction intervention: “Constructing my Future Purposeful Life” contributes to career counselors’ sustainable career development. Two groups of career counselors participating in a training program delivered by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens were involved, namely, an experimental group (N = 33) that received the intervention and a control group (N = 27) that did not receive any intervention. The effectiveness of the intervention was verified through qualitative and quantitative analysis, including the calculation of effect sizes, of the data obtained through the Future Career Autobiography, and the Greek version of the Life Project Reflexivity Scale. The results indicate that the Life Construction Interven...

Baltic Journal of Career Education and Management, 2017

Contemporary career guidance and counselling approaches with particular interest to subjects whic... more Contemporary career guidance and counselling approaches with particular interest to subjects which concern the development of career management skills since these skills are considered important means for the active exploration of the vocational course and the development of a career. The development of skills related to career adaptability and self-efficacy in the planning of a career could help students who are finishing Upper-secondary School (Lykeio) to approach creatively their career aims, and to deal effectively with the transitions or unexpected events by applying appropriate actions. The present study employed the survey research strategy in order to examine the level of the career adaptability and self-efficacy in the planning of a career with male and female students (N = 240) of Upper-secondary Schools (General Lykeia - GEL) and Vocational Upper-secondary Schools (Vocational Lykeia - EPAL) in Greece. Specifically, it examined the level of skills which students declare th...

Education Quarterly Reviews, 2019

International Journal of Psychological Studies, 2018

Based upon substantial research on career adaptability, and on specific cross-cultural validation... more Based upon substantial research on career adaptability, and on specific cross-cultural validation research of the Career Adapt-abilities Scale (CAAS) (Savickas & Porfeli, 2012) we recruited a sample of Greek university students (Ν = 452) in order to test further the Greek form of the scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis models showed that the four-factor structure was supported for the Greek form, comprising four dimensions: concern, control, curiosity, and confidence. The original six items per dimension structure was also maintained. Internal consistency estimates were satisfactory, and test-retest reliability reached acceptable levels. Indications of convergent validity were found as CAAS positively correlated with self-esteem. To further explore for the construct validity of the scale score differences by gender and year of studies were also examined. Overall, the observed differences were found to be in the expected direction. This validity study indicates that CAAS may be safe...

International Journal of Learning Teaching and Educational Research, May 31, 2015

Through two consecutive studies we attempted to explore the beliefs of personal efficacy in respe... more Through two consecutive studies we attempted to explore the beliefs of personal efficacy in respect to one's career and in relation to the continuously evolving patterns in career planning as these issues seem to have consequences to theory and research of career counselling as well as to the use of psychometric tools. We aimed at developing a research framework for assessing career self-efficacy for use in counselling services. In Study 1, a model describing six theoretically driven beliefs was psychometrically tested, arriving at a 21-item Perceived Self-Efficacy in Career Scale (PSECS); in this study, mainly item analysis and exploratory factor analysis methods were applied to Greek adults' data (N=126). In Study 2 we subjected the PSECS to confirmatory analysis testing on Greek high-school students' data (N=276). All analyses supported four dimensions, namely Career Management, Career Skills, Flexibility at Work, and Creativity at Work. The PSECS may offer an additional perspective for counselling about the way individuals evaluate their skills in order to effectively manage related career issues. Moreover, the scale may theoretically contribute and aid research in career counselling with respect to how people plan and adjust their careers within a changing economic landscape.

World Journal of Education, 2012

The present study aims to examine the relationship of career decision-making difficulties, dysfun... more The present study aims to examine the relationship of career decision-making difficulties, dysfunctional career thoughts and generalized self-efficacy, as factors involved in the decision-making process for university students. The study also investigates the influence of demographics and individual variables, and examines the predictive power of the Career Decision-making Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ) and the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) over the dimensions assessed by the Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI). The results revealed statistically significant positive correlations between CDDQ factors (lack of information, inconsistent information, and lack of readiness) and total grade in Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI), decision-making confusion, commitment difficulty and lack of determination. On the other hand, the results show statistically significant negative correlations between all the aforementioned variables and generalized self-efficacy. Moreover, the generalized self-efficacy, as well as the CDDQ factors seemed to be predictors of the lack of determination, decision-making confusion and commitment difficulty. Finally, there is a discussion about the additionality of the CDDQ and CTI Questionnaires and advantages from their common use. Findings are discussed in the terms of the career counseling framework.

Stress and Health, 2007

Optimism is a key variable for adjustment in aversive conditions. The purpose of this study was t... more Optimism is a key variable for adjustment in aversive conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine whether optimism is predicted by two stress-related variables which represent information about self and the environment (i.e. illness-related stress and self-efficacy), in a sample of breast cancer survivors. Ninety-two women who had undergone a mastectomy participated in the study (minimum time elapsed since diagnosis = 3 years). Most participants (51 per cent) reported that at least one of four illness-related concerns had been quite or very stressful in the past 6 months. Analyses showed that illness-related stress exerted influence on optimism through coping, whereas self-efficacy exerted influence both directly and through coping. Stress was predicted by two medical variables (time since diagnosis and time since mastectomy). These findings confirmed our hypothesis that knowledge about personal abilities, as well as about environment difficulties can predict the way a person evaluates future outcomes. This study has significant implications for clinical practice with patients.

Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 2007

Background: The incidence of breast cancer in Eastern Country is unexpectedly increasing more tha... more Background: The incidence of breast cancer in Eastern Country is unexpectedly increasing more than any other types of cancer in women. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe how breast cancer affects well-being of affected women, particularly their physical, emotional, personal and social aspects. Method: For the present study thirty-nine women were interviewed at different stages of diseases. Thirteen patients were recently diagnosed with breast cancer, ten were undergoing chemotherapy, nine were on follow-up and rest consisted of socially rejected once by others for their disease. All participants reported their experience through structured interview. A constructive grounded theory approach was used where includes different areas of domains of problems having impact on daily life. Results: Our study showed that, the reactions of the patients, when they were first informed about their disease is usually the thought of death. After first chemotherapy, behavioral changes were observed, in the form of lack of awareness about side effects. Social factors also play an important role in developing psychological stress. Conclusion: Various stages of diagnostic treatment pathway give rise to a range of unique and diverse influences on physical, emotional social and psychological well-being.

International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 2008

... D. Sidiropoulou-Dimakakou (&) 4 K. Mylonas 4 K. Argyropoulou Department of Psychology... more ... D. Sidiropoulou-Dimakakou (&) 4 K. Mylonas 4 K. Argyropoulou Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology ... Estimates of internal consistency indicated (Anastasi & Urbina, 1997) that the range of summary-scale Cronbach a coefficients varies by ...

International Education Studies, 2013

The present study aims at investigating career decision-making process of 6 th grade students wit... more The present study aims at investigating career decision-making process of 6 th grade students with the use of the Childhood Career Decision-Making Questionnaire (CCDMQ). CCDMQ offers scores for the following three decision-making dimensions: (a) Concerns/ fears regarding career future, (b) Investment οn decision-making process, and (c) Knowledge of the World of Work. The study reports the psychometric properties and the results of an exploratory factor analysis of the CCDMQ in a sample of 531 6 th grade students in the region of Attica, Greece. The implications for future research and for career guidance are discussed.

Creative Education, 2012

The present study aims at investigating Greek and non-Greek Vocational Education students' career... more The present study aims at investigating Greek and non-Greek Vocational Education students' career beliefs. The sample consists of 238 students who attend Greek Secondary Vocational Education schools in the region of Attica. The study also investigates whether various demographic variables (e.g. gender, immigrant status, parents' educational level) differentiate these beliefs. Career beliefs were assessed by Career Beliefs Patterns Scale-2. Five factors were found to contribute to career beliefs: Culture & common practice, Proficiency beliefs, Control & self-direction beliefs, Persistence beliefs, Fatalism & Socioeconomic status impact. The results revealed statistically significant relationships between the level of career beliefs and gender and immigrant status. Findings are discussed in terms of their practical applications for career counseling.

International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 2021

This study examined the relationships among courage, strategies of coping with career indecision,... more This study examined the relationships among courage, strategies of coping with career indecision, and future orientation in a sample of high school students. A total of 460 Greek adolescents from provincial cities participated in the study. The results indicated that courage indirectly predicted future orientation through productive coping strategies. The main conclusion refers to the fact that specific interventions could promote productive coping strategies and courage, which in turn, may foster the future orientation of adolescents to construct multiple positive occupational pathways, coping with various career and life decisions and, overall, orient themselves positively toward the future.