Enhancing Education and Career Pathways Through Peer and Near-Peer Social Capital

Abstract

Social capital strengthens emerging adults’ ability to reach life goals, but little is known about how peers and near-peers (slightly older and/or more experienced peers who serve in mentorship or coaching roles) support social capital development especially among young people of color. To address this gap, the current study examined how social capital derived from peers and near-peers contributes to emerging adults’ ability to actively mobilize social capital in pursuit of their education or career goals (i.e., self-initiated social capital) and, in turn, their education and career outcomes. A total of 841 emerging adults who participated in one of five community-based education and/or workforce support programs were surveyed (72% female; Mage = 20.1, SD = 1.84; 35% Latinx, 30% Black, 19% Asian, 16% Other). Peer social capital was indirectly associated with outcomes (i.e., progress towards education/career goals, commitment to paying-it-forward, collective efficacy to change systems) via greater self-initiated social capital, whereas near-peer social capital was both directly and indirectly associated with outcomes. The mechanisms by which peer and near-peer social capital support emerging adults as they work towards their goals may differ and have important program implications.

The Role of Organized Activities in Supporting Youth Social Capital Development: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

“…In addition to activity features that support social capital development, youth engage in behaviors (e.g., actively and strategically reaching out to their web of support, securing resources needed to reach specific goals) that catalyze their ability to reach these life goals. This finding is consistent with past research that suggests the use of social capital requires a level of agency or mobilization on the part of the young person (Boat, et al, 2022a).…”

“…Social capital is an important asset that adolescents and emerging adults can leverage while pursuing life course milestones including postsecondary education and employment. Social capital has been positively linked to progress towards education and career goals (Boat, et al, 2022a), increased support for securing a job (Brown et al, 2016), and career advancement including higher compensation levels (Ghosh & Reio, 2013;McDonald, 2015). And, it may be an especially valuable asset among students from underrepresented groups in higher education, including first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds, and students of color, who often experience systemic and institutional barriers that contribute to exclusion and inequitable school-based extracurricular activities such as sports and clubs, as well as out-of-school time programming such as faith-based, youth, and workforce development programs.…”

Expanding career adaptability: connections as a critical component of career success

“…In contrast to prior research, it highlights the overlooked role of moderators in individuals' career construction efforts. Categorizing these moderators into family life, job attributes, company size and demographic characteristics enhances our understanding of the diverse factors influencing career success, complementing the recognized importance of social capital in previous studies (Lin, 1999;Seibert et al, 2001;Chow, 2002;Lo Presti et al, 2019;Sou et al, 2022;Kauffeld and Spurk, 2022;Boat et al, 2022).…”

A Bibliometric Review of Career Education from Contemporary Literature with Vosviewer and Biblioshiny

“…Qualified professionals who are familiar with a wide array of career challenges including entry-level positions, obtaining an academic degree or certification, overcoming personal challenges and challenges in the workplace, career decision-making, interviewing for jobs, job search strategies, personal development issues, and career maintenance (Hahn et.al., 2021). Technically, career counselors prepare individuals for success throughout their working lives by offering guidance on developing skills to achieve their career goals (Boat, 2022).…”