Perceived Career Barriers and Career Decidedness of First‐Generation College Students

• Published in: The Career development quarterly Vol. 68; no. 4; pp. 332 - 347
• Main Authors: Toyokawa, Teru, DeWald, Chelsie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria National Career Development Association 01.12.2020; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: career barriers; Career Choice; Career Development; Career development planning; career exploration; Careers; College students; Colleges & universities; Decision making; Employment; First Generation College Students; First generation students; Higher education; Influence; Investigations; Longitudinal Studies; Perceptions; Student attitudes; Students; transition; Undergraduate Students
• ISSN: 0889-4019; 2161-0045
• DOI: 10.1002/cdq.12240

We examined the effects of perceived career barriers on career decidedness among first‐generation college (FGC) students (n = 149) and non‐FGC students (n = 182) at a 4‐year university (mean age = 19.3 years). Participants responded online to measures of perceived career barriers and career decidedness. Results indicated that FGC students scored higher on lack of support and lack of time and financial resources than non‐FGC students. For both groups, higher levels of perceived lack of skills were related to lower levels of career decidedness, whereas greater levels of family‐related responsibilities predicted higher levels of career decidedness. FGC student status moderated the association between perceived lack of time/financial resources and career decidedness. Further research is needed to investigate the differential effects of various domains of career barriers. Career counselors are advised to consider FGC students' perceived career barriers in guiding students' career exploration and decision‐making.