Date of Award

Summer 8-2016

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Emily Bullock-Yowell

Committee Chair Department

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Melanie Leuty

Committee Member 2 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Michael Madson

Committee Member 3 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 4

Richard Mohn

Committee Member 4 Department

Educational Studies and Research

Abstract

The perceived importance of, and commitment to, work and family roles has significant implications for the career decision-making difficulty (CDMD) of undergraduate college students. Additionally, cultural variables have been shown to influence undergraduate students’ anticipated life role salience (LRS) as well as the amount of difficulty experienced in making a career decision. Given this information, the current study assessed the relationship between LRS and CDMD specifically in terms of differences that may occur within this relationship for different cultural groups. Using a sample of college students (total N = 246), an online survey was used to gather information about their LRS and current CDMD. Race, sex, collectivism/individualism, and religiousness/spirituality were also assessed in efforts to determine whether or not these specific multicultural variables moderate or buffer the effects of LRS on CDMD using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results of this study indicate that Daily Spiritual Experience, a specific sub-construct of religiousness/spirituality, was the only significant multicultural moderator in the relationship between LRS and CDMD. Specifics of this moderation for each of the four life roles, as well as clinical implications, are discussed.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-8797-9623

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