Perceived Racism and Career Self-Efficacy in African American Adolescents

Abstract

African American adolescents' perceptions of racism and career self-efficacy relationships are examined. Participants in a southwestern urban high school completed the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, Racism and Life ExperiencesScale-Personal and -Group, and career decision and career task self-efficacy scales. Results indicate that participants who perceived a higher degree of racism against their group reported significantly higher self-efficacy for career decision making but not for career task self-efficacy. An achieved ethnic identity, higher parental socioeconomic status, and being female were related to higher levels of career self-efficacy. The study's research design supports the need for research with ethnic identity, gender, and the use of multidimensional measurements to achieve a better understanding of racism and career selfefficacy with African American adolescents. Theoretical, research, and programmatic implications are discussed.

Explaining Career Decision‐Making Self‐Efficacy: Personality, Cognitions, and Cultural Mistrust

“…In the sample of African American college students, career decision-making self-efficacy was found to be negatively correlated with cultural mistrust. This finding is in contrast to Rollins's (2000) study, which reported that African American adolescents who reported a higher degree of racism against their ethnic group also reported greater self-efficacy for a variety of career decision-making tasks. Career thoughts and cultural mistrust were positively related, supporting Barnes and Lightsey's (2005) and Thompson's (1996) findings that perceived racism is related to intrusive thoughts.…”

“…With regard to career decision-making self-efficacy, Rollins (2000) found that African American adolescents who reported a higher degree of racism against their ethnic group also reported greater self-efficacy for a variety of career decision-making tasks. An additional study found that African American students reported significantly higher career decision-making self-efficacy than did students from other ethnic backgrounds, including Native American, Asian American, and Caucasian American students (Chaney, Hammond, Betz, & Multon, 2007).…”

A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Strengths of Black Youths

“…For those persons who were able to complete various levels of schooling, access to employment opportunities that were congruent with their levels of training and ability were virtually nonexistent. Arguably, this trend continues today (Blustein, 2006;King & Madsen, 2007;Rollins & Valdez, 2006). In spite of the discriminatory contexts in which Blacks have lived and still live, they have continued to pursue education and to achieve accomplishments that ought to directly counteract suppositions that they are incapable of academic success.…”

Evaluating FOCUS‐2's Effectiveness in Enhancing First‐Year College Students’ Social Cognitive Career Development

“…A study by Rollins and Valdez (2006) provided additional support that ethnic identity is an important factor in the development of career self-efficacy beliefs. In their study of 85 male and female African American 1 lth-and 12'~-grade high school students, the authors found that ethnic identity achievement was related to greater career decisionmaking self-efficacy.…”

“…& Henry, 1992: Keller, Piotrowski, & McLeod, 1992Luzzo, 1993b). Rollins and Valdez (2006) have found that increasing reports of perceived racism against one's group has been associated with high career decision-making self-efficacy.…”