Factors Influencing Factors Influencing Indices of Career Indices of Career

Development Development Jessica LazenbyJessica Lazenby

Research for the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Research for the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement ProgramAchievement Program

Faculty Mentor: Rachel L. Navarro Ph.D.Faculty Mentor: Rachel L. Navarro Ph.D.Department of Counseling and Educational PsychologyDepartment of Counseling and Educational Psychology

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

1.1. Do depression and ethnic identity Do depression and ethnic identity influence career decision-making self-influence career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE)?efficacy (CDMSE)?

2.2. Does CDMSE influence career indecision Does CDMSE influence career indecision and career certainty?and career certainty?

3.3. Does CDMSE mediate relationships Does CDMSE mediate relationships between ethnic identity, depression, between ethnic identity, depression, career indecision and career certainty?career indecision and career certainty?

Research Questions Research Questions (cont.)(cont.)

4.4. How much variance in CDMSE is How much variance in CDMSE is explained by ethnic identity and explained by ethnic identity and depression?depression?

5.5. How much variance in career indecision How much variance in career indecision and career certainty is explained by the and career certainty is explained by the direct effects of CDMSE and the indirect direct effects of CDMSE and the indirect effects of ethnic identity and depression?effects of ethnic identity and depression?

Past ResearchPast Research

Constantine & Flores, 2006Constantine & Flores, 2006 Examined psychological distress, Examined psychological distress,

perceived family conflict, and career perceived family conflict, and career development in minority college development in minority college students. students. Higher levels of psychological Higher levels of psychological

distress predicted higher levels of distress predicted higher levels of career indecision.career indecision.

MethodologyMethodology 300 participants300 participants

Undergraduate Students at NMSUUndergraduate Students at NMSU

Survey measuring 5 variablesSurvey measuring 5 variables Depression Scale Depression Scale Ethnic Identity Scale (Roberts et al, 1999)Ethnic Identity Scale (Roberts et al, 1999) CDMSE scale (Betz, Klein, & Taylor, 1996)CDMSE scale (Betz, Klein, & Taylor, 1996) Career Decision Scale (Osipow, 1987)Career Decision Scale (Osipow, 1987)

Career Indecision and Career CertainityCareer Indecision and Career Certainity Demographics will also be takenDemographics will also be taken

Research ModelResearch Model

Depression CDMSE

Ethnic Identity Career

Indecision

Career Certainty

AnalysisAnalysis

Path Analysis Path Analysis obtain regression weights for each obtain regression weights for each

pathpath determine amount of variance determine amount of variance

explained in CDMSE, career explained in CDMSE, career indecision, and career certaintyindecision, and career certainty

HypothesesHypotheses

Ethnic identity will positively influence Ethnic identity will positively influence career decision-making self-efficacy. career decision-making self-efficacy.

Depression will negatively influence Depression will negatively influence career decision-making self-efficacy. career decision-making self-efficacy.

Hypotheses (cont.)Hypotheses (cont.)

CDMSE will positively influence career CDMSE will positively influence career certainty and career aspirations while having a certainty and career aspirations while having a negative relationship with career indecision. negative relationship with career indecision.

CDMSE will mediate the following CDMSE will mediate the following relationships:relationships: Ethnic identity and Career IndecisionEthnic identity and Career Indecision Ethnic identity and Career CertaintyEthnic identity and Career Certainty Depression and Career IndecisionDepression and Career Indecision Depression and Career CertaintyDepression and Career Certainty

ConclusionConclusion

This study will hopefully extend the This study will hopefully extend the research on depression and ethnic research on depression and ethnic identity and how those factors influence identity and how those factors influence college student’s career decisions. college student’s career decisions.

Further research should investigate Further research should investigate CDMSE, career indecision and certainty CDMSE, career indecision and certainty in depressed students with various levels in depressed students with various levels of social support. of social support.

ReferencesReferences

Constantine, M., & Flores, L. (2006). Psychological distress, percieved Constantine, M., & Flores, L. (2006). Psychological distress, percieved family conflict, and career development issues in college studnets of family conflict, and career development issues in college studnets of color. color. Journal of Career AssesmentJournal of Career Assesment, , 1414((33), 354-369. ), 354-369.

Roberts, R., Phinney, J., Masse, L., Chen, Y., Roberts, C., & Romero, A. Roberts, R., Phinney, J., Masse, L., Chen, Y., Roberts, C., & Romero, A. (1999). The structure of ethnic identity in young adolescents from diverse (1999). The structure of ethnic identity in young adolescents from diverse ethnocultural groups. ethnocultural groups. Journal of Early Adolescence, 19Journal of Early Adolescence, 19, 301-322., 301-322.

Betz, N. and Luzzo, D (1996). Career assessment and the Career Betz, N. and Luzzo, D (1996). Career assessment and the Career Decision - Making Self – Efficacy Scale. Journal of Career assessment, 4, Decision - Making Self – Efficacy Scale. Journal of Career assessment, 4, 313-328. 313-328.

Osipow, S. H. (1987). Osipow, S. H. (1987). Career Decision Scale ManualCareer Decision Scale Manual. Odessa, FL: Psych.. Odessa, FL: Psych.Assessment Resources Inc.Assessment Resources Inc.

Questions?Questions?