Abstract

• The objective of this study is to examine the influence of parental pressure and perceived control on career exploration of young adults in Yangon, Myanmar. This study involved 20 students, who are within 19 to 24 years old, from University of Yangon. In-depth interviews were performed using a ground theory approach and a qualitative technique to analyze the participant narratives. The results show that participants experienced more parental pressure during their university years compared with years of childhood or high school. Compared to childhood and high school, they also engaged in more career exploration in university. With regard to perceived control, the participants held a moderate to high level of perceived control over their career environments. According to the findings, most participants felt that parental pressure had no influence over their perceived control on career exploration, and few participants experienced positive and negative influence of the parental pressure on perceived control in relation to career environment. In later years, when other factors contributed to the career exploration, parental pressure did not seem to affect career exploration. The findings have implications for vocational psychology and career counseling with young adults.