This paper proposes family social capital as a relational mechanism for driving the early career development of emerging adults. Career development theories, like the social cognitive career theory, largely focus on individuals or macro “environmental” factors. Meanwhile, sociologists focus on resources beyond individuals, like parental socioeconomic status. This paper theorises that family social capital can encourage career goal making and achievement by facilitating positive interactions between young people and influential adults, showing that social resources can play a key role in career development beyond individual characteristics and financial resources. Family social capital contributes to educational performance and lower levels of delinquent behaviour, suggesting social capital may have similar positive associations with career development. Using nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health survey from the U.S, this study examines whether the positive effects of family social capital extend into the career orientation of emerging adults.
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