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An Examination of Social Cognitive Precursors of Lesbians’ Vocational Interests

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2011, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Counseling Psychology.
The overall purpose of this study was to extend current understanding of the precursors of lesbian women’s vocational interests. Using SCCT’s vocational interest formation model as a guiding theoretical framework, I examined the contributions of sexual orientation, gender-role conformity, learning experiences, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations to women’s vocational interests. Consistent with Morrow et al.’s (1996) theorizing, I anticipated that sexual orientation would relate significantly to learning experiences indirectly via gender-role conformity. Next, I tested the applicability of a portion of the SCCT interest model for a sample of lesbian women. The model contained learning experiences, self-efficacy, outcome expectations and interests. Finally, the direct paths for this portion of the SCCT interest model were compared for lesbian and heterosexual women to examine the extent to which the model was invariant across sexual orientation. A total of 130 self-identified lesbian and 136 heterosexual women enrolled in institutes of higher learning completed an online survey containing measures of feminine gender-role conformity, learning experiences, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and interests. If the participant identified as lesbian, she was asked to complete a measure of sexual orientation outness. Learning experiences, self-efficacy, outcome expectations and interests were measured across Holland’s (1997) six RIASEC domains. The results indicated that sexual orientation impacts vocational learning experiences indirectly via conformity to feminine role norms in the Artistic, Social, and Enterprising domains. Sexual orientation directly impacted interests in the Enterprising and Conventional domains. In terms of the fit of the SCCT interest model for lesbian women, the Investigative, Artistic, and Conventional models fit the data from lesbian women well, and the Realistic, Social, and Enterprising models fit adequately. Finally, the model posited by SCCT appears to be largely invariant across sexual orientation.
David Tokar, Dr. (Advisor)
Susan Hardin, Dr. (Committee Member)
Sandra Perosa, Dr. (Committee Member)
Linda Subich, Dr. (Committee Member)
John Queener, Dr. (Committee Member)
217 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Plaufcan, M. R. (2011). An Examination of Social Cognitive Precursors of Lesbians’ Vocational Interests [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1310435272

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Plaufcan, Melissa. An Examination of Social Cognitive Precursors of Lesbians’ Vocational Interests. 2011. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1310435272.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Plaufcan, Melissa. "An Examination of Social Cognitive Precursors of Lesbians’ Vocational Interests." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1310435272

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)