EGO DEVELOPMENT, SEX-ROLE ATTITUDE, WORK VALUES, CAREER SALIENCE, AND CAREER CHOICE: A CAUSAL MODEL

This study evaluated a causal model of career choice among 139 women, ages 19 to 62, seeking career counseling. The exogenous variables were ego development, sex role attitude, career salience, and work values. The Work Values Inventory was factor analyzed; four factors labeled Intrinsic-Development, Extrinsic Rewards, Situation-Related, and People-Related were derived. The endogenous variables were four components of career choice: preferred and expected career field and level. Responses to a career choice questionnaire were quantified according to Shinar\u27s Occupational Sex-typed Classification Scale and Roe\u27s Classification of Occupational levels. It was hypothesized that ego development was the antecedent factor affecting work values, career salience and attitude toward women; and that these intervening variables in turn affected career choice. The temporal model was tested by path analysis. The causal model significantly affected the four career choice variables, explaining more variability in career level choice than career field choice. Career field choice was primarily a function of the direct effect of ego development and the intervening effect of work values. Career level choice was directly dependent on attitude toward women\u27s role and work values; and indirectly dependent on ego development. Expecting a nontraditional field and choosing a higher-level career were associated with women at higher levels of ego development. Valuing intrinsic development was related to preference for a nontraditional field; valuing people-relatedness of work was related to preference for a traditional field. Women at lower levels of ego development placed more emphasis on extrinsic rewards of work and also preferred lower level careers. A more liberal attitude toward women\u27s role and valuing intrinsic work rewards had a causal influence on preferred and expected higher level career choice. Most of the women endorsed importance of a career role, providing no association between career salience and ego development or career choice. Results demonstrated validity of utilizing path analysis methodology and the multi-variable construct, content of career choice, for career development research. Implications for career theory and developmental career counseling interventions were discussed