Exploring the Moderation of Meaning in Life in Barriers and Coping Efficacy Among Women. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marks, Laura Reid; Tate, Kevin A.; Taylor, Jennifer M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of career development. Volume 47:Number 5(2020:Oct.)
• Page Start: 524
• Page End: 537
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: career barriers -- career-related self-efficacy -- SCCT; Career education -- United States -- Periodicals; Career development -- Periodicals; 370.113
• DOI: 10.1177/0894845318803193
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-8453

Abstract

In this study, we sought to extend social cognitive career theory and examined the links among perceptions of career and educational barriers, coping self-efficacy, and meaning in life in a diverse sample of women. Five hundred and seventy-nine female participants were recruited using Amazon Mechanical Turk where they were asked to complete an online survey. Our analyses revealed a significant negative relationship between educational and career barriers and coping self-efficacy. When controlling for social class, a presence of and a search for meaning in life were not significant moderators of the association between educational and career barriers and coping self-efficacy. However, when not controlling for social class, a presence of a meaning for life did significantly moderate the association between educational barriers and coping self-efficacy. Implications of these findings for counselors working with women on their career development and for future research are discussed.