Examining Contextual Factors in the Career Decision Status of African American Adolescents

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which perceived occupational barriers and perceived parental support predicted career certainty and career indecision in a sample of African American adolescents. Perceived occupational barriers were positively predictive of career indecision, and perceived parental support was positively associated with career certainty. The results provided support for the importance of considering contextual variables, such as perceived occupational barriers and perceived parental support, in the career decision-making processes of African American adolescents. The results also highlighted the salience of social cognitive career theory in conceptualizing career-related issues in African American high school students. Future research directions are discussed.

Multiple Measures of Family and Social Support as Predictors of Psychological Well-Being: An Additive Approach

“…For example, adolescents who perceived their teachers to be supportive, had more confidence in their career decision-making ability (Metheny, McWhirter, & O'Neil, 2008). A lack of perceived support from either teachers or parents, on the other hand, resulted in adolescents feeling uncertainty about their careers (Constantine, Wallace, & Kindaichi, 2005;Metheny, McWhirter, & O'Neil, 2008). Family and monetary support predicted happiness in a sample of married adults (North, Holahan, Moos, & Cronkite, 2008), while Lett and colleagues (2005) examined functional support in a group of patients with heart disease and found that low levels of support resulted in a 1.5 to 2.0 fold increased risk for mortality and morbidity.…”

“…The previously mentioned research indeed point to the importance of social support as predictors of health and well-being but also looks at these sources from a singular perspective. Constantine et al (2005), Metheny et al (2008), North et al (2008) and others' work tells us that social support networks and systems are important but, having multiple sources of social support may be more beneficial than singular sources of social support. This underscores the need for additional research that looks at an additive model of social support networks and systems on psychological well-being.…”

Career Development of Asian American Female Visual Artists

“…Most researchers and practitioners have long recognized the impact of parents in the career planning process (Gottfredson, 1981;Hartung, Portfeli, & Vondraek, 2005;Lent, Brown, and Hackett, 1994;Super, Savickas, & Super, 1991;Whiston & Keller, 2004). However much of the current knowledge of parental influence is primarily based on what is known about Caucasian American populations (Flores & Ali, 2004), despite research that indicates that the influence of parents on the career development process may differ for racial ethnic minorities (Constantine, Wallace, & Kindaichi, 2005;Tang, 2002). Therefore this section will further explore the literature that examines the familial influences on the career development specific to Asian…”

Jeunes et travail : « l’avantage » d’être francophone en Ontario

“…D'autres études (Samson et Gazzola, 2007;Germeijs et Verschueren, 2007;Guichard, 2001;Ireh, 2000) ont montré le rôle et l'importance de l'éducation à la carrière et de l'orientation professionnelle dans le développement des stratégies nécessaires pour assurer la transition de l'école vers le marché de l'emploi. L'incompréhension des barrières professionnelles et les biais des sources d'information consultées par les jeunes, que ce soit les parents, l'école, les amis ou les médias, constituent selon plusieurs chercheurs (Hargrove, Inman, et Crane, 2005;Constantine, Wallace et Kindaichi, 2005) des facteurs de l'indécision professionnelle.…”