• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.181-211
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• 2009

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.