This investigation examined self-reliance and work preference variables as theoretical factors in career decision-making self-efficacy. As expected, each variable was significantly related to career decision- making self-efficacy (CDMSE), with counterdependence and preference for growth needs emerging as the more significant contributors. Counterdependence, a self-reliance strategy in which persons distance themselves from others, was significantly and negatively related to CDMSE, whereas preference for growth needs in one's career was significantly and positively related to CDMSE. Unexpectedly, CDMSE scores were also related to gender, with females reporting greater self- efficacy in gathering occupational information and career planning. Regression models incorporating self-reliance variables, work preferences, and gender to predict CDMSE facet and total scores were significant, accounting for 12.4% to 26.2% of explained variance. Implications for research and career guidance are discussed.
Bandura, A. (1982). Self-efficacy mechanisms in human agency. American Psychologist, 37, 122-147.
2.
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.
3.
Blustein, D.L. (1989). The role of goal instability and career self-efficacy in the career exploration process. Journal of Vocational Behavior , 35, 194-203.
4.
Blustein, D.L., & Phillips, S.D. (1988). Individual and contextual factors in career exploration. Journal of Vocational Behavior , 33, 203-216.
5.
Blustein, D.L., Walbridge, M.M., Friedlander, M.L., & Palladino, D.E. (1991). Contributions of psychological separation and parental attachment to the career development process. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 38, 39-50.
6.
Church, A.T., Teresa, J.S., Rosebrook, R., & Szendre, D. (1992). Self-efficacy for careers and occupational consideration in minority high school equivalency students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 39, 498-508.
7.
Cohen, S., & Wills, T. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis . Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310-357.
8.
Dillman, D.A. (1978). Mail and telephone surveys. New York: Wiley.
9.
Dziuban, C.D., Tango, R.A., & Hynes, M. (1994). An assessment of the effect of vocational exploration on career decision making. Journal of Employment Counseling , 31, 127-136.
10.
Gianakos, I. (1995). The relation of sex role identity to career decision-making self-efficacy. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 46, 131-143.
11.
Gianakos, I. (1996). Career development differences between adult and traditional-aged learners. Journal of Career Development, 22, 211-223.
12.
Gianakos, I. (1999). Patterns of career choice and career decision-making self-efficacy. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 54, 244-258.
13.
Holland, J.L. (1996). Exploring careers with a typology. American Psychologist, 51, 397-406.
14.
Kelly, K.R. (1993). The relation of gender and academic achievement to career self-efficacy and interests. Gifted Child Quarterly , 37(2), 59-64.
15.
Lent, R.W., & Hackett, G. (1987). Career self-efficacy: Empirical status and future directions. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 30, 347-382.
16.
Lucas, M. (1997). Identity development, career development, and psychological separation from parents: Similarities and differences between men and women. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 44, 123-132.
17.
Norusis, M.J. (1998). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows, version 9.0. Chicago: SPSS.
18.
Orndorff, R.M., & Herr, E.L. (1996). A comparative study of declared and undeclared college students on career uncertainty and involvement in career development activities. Journal of Counseling and Development, 74, 632-639.
19.
Piltch, C.A., Walsh, D.C., Mangione, T.W., & Jennings, S.E. (1994). Gender, work, and mental distress in an industrial labor force: An expansion of Karasek's job strain model. In G. P. Keita & J. J. Hurrell, Jr. (Eds.), Job stress in a changing workforce: Investigating gender, diversity, and family issues (pp. 39-45). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association .
20.
Quick, J.C., Joplin, J.R., Nelson, D.L., & Quick, J.D. (1992). Behavioral responses to anxiety: Self-reliance, counterdependence, and overdependence. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 5, 41-54.
21.
Robbins, S.B. (1985). Validity estimates for the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 18, 64-74.
22.
Shamir, B., & Arthur, M.B. (1989). An exploratory study of perceived career change and job attitudes among job changers. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 19, 701-716.
23.
Super, D.E. (1988). Vocational adjustment: Implementing a self-concept . Career Development Quarterly, 36, 351-357.
24.
Taylor, K.M., & Betz, N.E. (1983). Applications of self-efficacy theory to the understanding and treatment of career indecision. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 22, 63-81.
25.
Taylor, K.M., & Pompa, J. (1990). An examination of relationships among career decision-making self-efficacy, career salience, locus of control, and vocational indecision . Journal of Vocational Behavior, 37, 17-31.
26.
West, M.A., & Nicholson, N. (1989). The outcomes of job change. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 34, 335-349.
27.
Young, R.A. (1994). Helping adolescents with career development: The active role of parents. Career Development Quarterly, 42, 195-203.
