Anticipated career barriers of female Japanese college students in Japan.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The present study focused on female Japanese college students' perceptions of future career barriers and tested theory-based structural equation models that included variables hypothesized to be related to their levels of anticipated career barriers. More specifically, in terms of the antecedents, the relationships among the participants' levels of anticipated career barriers, powerful others (one of the three dimensions of locus of control), fear of negative social evaluation, and general self-efficacy were examined. In terms of the consequences, the relationships among their levels of anticipated career barriers, optimism about future occupation and life, occupational self-confidence, occupational intentions and commitment, and considered career options were examined. The present study aimed at identifying the most statistically sound, parsimonious model using these variables.
The participants were 1089 female Japanese college students in their freshman, sophomore, or junior years who were recruited from eleven universities and colleges in Japan. The survey was administered in Japanese during their class periods.
Several iterations of the structural equation model were tested to identify the most parsimonious model. The RMSEA (.064) of the selected structural equation model indicated a reasonable fit, and the CFI (.989) and TLI (.984) provided evidence for a close fit. In terms of the antecedents, "anticipated career barriers" was positively associated with "powerful others" and was negatively associated with "general self-efficacy." On the other hand, "fear of negative social evaluation" was not directly related to "anticipated career barriers"; however, it was indirectly and positively related to "anticipated career barriers" through "general self-efficacy.".
In terms of the consequences, "anticipated career barriers" was negatively associated with "optimism about future occupation and life" and "occupational self-confidence." "Anticipated career barriers" was also positively related to "occupational intentions and commitment." Furthermore, "occupational self-confidence" and "occupational intentions and commitment" were positively associated with each other. Lastly, "occupational intentions and commitment" was positively related to "considered career options.".
These findings as well as implications for career counseling theory, research, and practice were discussed.