Personality and cultural influences on social cognitive career variables for Asians/Asian Americans

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of three personality variables (locus of control, social anxiety, intolerance of ambiguity) and enculturation to Asian values on the career self-efficacy and career interests (math/science and non math/science) of Asian/Asian American undergraduates. Using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994) as a conceptual framework, it was hypothesized that high levels of external locus of control, social anxiety, and intolerance of ambiguity would be positively associated with math/science career self-efficacy and math/science career interests. Conversely, low levels of external locus of control, social anxiety, and intolerance of ambiguity were hypothesized to positively predict non-math/science career self-efficacy and non-math/science career interests. Level of enculturation was expected to moderate the relationships between the personality variables and math-science career self-efficacy and career interest; that is, the relationships between the personality variables and math/science career self-efficacy and career interests were predicted to be stronger for individuals with high levels of enculturation.;Survey data were gathered from 668 students at two large West coast universities. Multiple regression analyses revealed modest support for independent associations between social anxiety and intolerance of ambiguity to SCCT variables, mainly in the non math/science domains and specifically, in the self-efficacy variable. In addition, enculturation was shown to moderate the relationship between intolerance of ambiguity and non math/science, career self-efficacy. The study's results are discussed in terms of theoretical, research, and practice implications.