Exploring Relationships of Factors Influencing Career Choices Among Asian American Social Workers

동양계 미국 사회복지사의 진로선택에 영향을 미친 요소들 간의 관계에 대한 연구

Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing minority groups in the United States. One of the stereotypes associated with Asians is that they are more likely to choose careers in science, medicine, and engineering rather than social science, inclusive of social work, mass communication, or humanities (Leong & Serafica, 1995; Tang et al., 1999). This occupational stereotyping of Asians is not just a myth in that only a few Asians choose social work as a career (Lennon, 2005; NASW, 2006). Few studies exist on Asian Americans who do not choose Asian stereotypical career choices, such as social work. Acknowledging this lack of research, the present study was developed to explore the relationships between factors that may influence Asian Americans who choose social work as their career. Based on Social Cognitive Career Theory (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994), it was hypothesized that acculturation and family immigration status influenced parental involvement, disapproval by significant others as a perceived career barrier among Asian American social workers. A cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. The sample was derived from the members'database of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). A total of 900 were randomly chosen among 1,802 of Asian American social workers in the NASW database, and 370 Asian American social workers participated in this study with 41 percent of a return rate. Quantitative data were collected through standardized measurements: Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (Suinn, Rickard-Figueroa, Lew, & Vigil, 1987); Career Barriers Inventory Revised (Swanson, et al., 1996); and eight items from Tang et al.'s (1999) Asian American Career Development Questionnaire. The data were collected through a combined method of an online survey with option of a paper mail-return questionnaire. Results of the study found significant group differences among family immigration status groups on parental involvement, and perceived likelihood and hindrance of disapproval by significant others. The group of the 2nd generation reported the highest scores of parental involvement among the family immigration status groups. Also, Asian American social workers who represented the 3rd and higher generation of immigration reported lowest perceived likelihood and hindrance scores of disapproval by significant others. However, there was no significant multivariate effect of acculturation on parental involvement, and perceived likelihood and hindrance of disapproval by significant others. Implications and limitations of this study, as well as suggestions for future research, are discussed.

본 연구는 사회인지직업이론 (Social Cognitive Career Theory)을 근거로, 동양계 미국인의 문화적응도 (levels of acculturation)와 이민 세대 (family immigration status)에 따라 주변인들의 불인정 (disapproval by significant others)으로 인한 진로선택의 어려움과 부모의 진로에 대한 관여도 (parental involvement)가 달라진다는 가설을 검증하였다. 사회조사연구로 설계되었으며 370명의 동양계 미국사회복지사의 자료를 분석하였다. 연구결과, 이민세대에 따라 진로선택에 관련하여 부모의 관여도와 주변인들의 불인정으로 인한 진로어려움이 달라지는 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 문화적응도는 부모의 진로 관여도와 주변인들의 불인정으로 인한 진로선택의 어려움에 유의미하게 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 연구결과를 바탕으로 진로선택행동에 영향을 미치는 문화적 요인들을 고려한, 동양계 미국인들을 위한 진로상담에 대한 함의가 논의되었다.