Jean A. Steitz

A PATH MODEL OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAREER INDECISION, ANDROGYNY, SELF-EFFICACY, AND SELF-ESTEEM

Utilizing a path model, this study investigated the relationship between Androgyny and career decision-making among 91 high school girls. The constructs included in the model were Androgyny as assessed by the Bern Sex-role Inventory, Self-esteem as assessed by the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Self-efficacy as assessed by the Wulff-Steitz Career Self-efficacy Scale, and Career Indecision as assessed by the Osipow Career Decision Scale. The results indicated that Androgyny scores were significantly associated with those on Self-esteem, Self-esteem with Self-efficacy, and Self-efficacy with Career Indecision. The results are discussed in terms of the usefulness of path models in clarifying complex interrelationships.

EXAMINING THE AGING SEMANTIC DIFFERENTIAL: SUGGESTIONS FOR REFINEMENT

One of the most widely used instruments for the assessment of attitudes toward the elderly is the Aging Semantic Differential, first developed by Rosencrantz and McNevin in 1969. Although widely used, problems concerning the instrument have been found. This article reviews the research using the Aging Semantic Differential and the validity of the instrument itself. Directions for refinement are presented and discussed.

Young Children's Human Figure Drawings and Cognitive Development:

The age-stage relationship between young childrens human figure drawings and Piagets levels of cognitive development was investigated using 45 young children ages 4 through 6 years Analyses indicated a distinct monotonic trend between cognitive stage and drawing level; as cognitive ability increased so did drawing level. This suggests that childrens human figure drawings can be a simple tool for the quick assessment of cognitive levels in young children.

What Adolescents Know about Aging.

Increasing the amount of contact with older adults is often proposed as a way to inform young people about aging. This study compares adolescents’ knowledge of aging with the amount and quality of contact they have with an older adult and compares adolescents’ knowledge of aging in 1978 with their knowledge in 1985. The results indicate that adolescents are very misinformed or uninformed about aging and older adults. Profiles of the responses on individual items from Palmores “Facts on Aging” reveal qualitative differences associated with gender, degree of contact, and changes over time in the nature of the adolescents’ knowledge of aging. How adolescents perceive older adults and the implications this has for educational efforts are discussed.

Public Knowledge of Late-Life Depression and Aging

Depression among the elderly is a common, treatable condition, yet few individuals older than the age of 65 are treated for this disorder. This study used a sample of 235 adults to assess the general publics knowledge of late-life depression and aging. The data indicated that the sample had little knowledge of aging in general and even less about late-life depression. Racial differences were more prominent than were gender differences. Whites and African Americans did not differ in terms of their knowledge of aging. However, Whites were more knowledgeable of depression than were African Americans. This suggests differences in the social construct of depression in the African American community in comparison with the White community. The relationship between knowledge of aging and knowledge of depression is also discussed.

Occupational Involvement and Alienation among Adults: The Effects of Gender and Age.

This paper presents a path analytic study of differences due to ones gender in the perception of and meaning attributed to occupational involvement and alienation among adult professionals. Within the study, gender differences are not considered in isolation from interdependent age differences. The sample consists of 233 adults employed at the same job level within a large professional organization. The path model looks at the interplay between background variables, contextual/organizational variables, personal/psychological variables, and work outcomes (powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, isolation from organizational goals, and job satisfaction). The results indicate that the psychological structure of work alienation is qualitatively different for women than for men. Quantitatively, the men and women experience approximately the same amount of alienation. In general, age is a negative factor for the women, but a positive factor for the men especially in relationship with the contextual/organizational variables. The distinct meaning of work alienation for women as opposed to men and the role of age and adult identity are discussed in terms of further understanding the adult occupational experience.

A MEASURE OF CAREER SELF-EFFICACY

The present study involved the development of a measure of career self-efficacy. The measure is short, easy to use, and has high internal consistency and test-retest reliability as well as good congruent and discriminant validity.

An Interaction-Transaction Perspective on the Perception of Control within Select Life Situations.

Utilizing an interaction-transaction perspective on perceived control within six life situations, a multivariate cohort study investigated patterns of interaction associated with 90 individuals representing different periods along the adult life course: adolescence, adulthood and retired adulthood. Two global hypothesized patterns were tested: (a) a pattern due to the individuals’ social age status regardless of situation; (b) a pattern due to the situation regardless of social age status. The results indicate neither hypothesis adequately portrays the complex interplay of life situations, social age status and sex status. The results are discussed in terms of the individuals’ differing transactional relations with the larger culture, sex status differences operating in conjunction with social age status differences, cultural change and cohort differences.