Stephen L. Wright

Traditional and Nontraditional Gender Roles and Work—Family Interface for Men and Women

In this article, we examine traditional and nontraditional gender roles and work—family interface for men and women. Recent empirical literature is reviewed and implications for career counselors are discussed. We discuss changing gender roles in career, marriage, and parenting and provide strategies for helping clients to cope with work—family role strain and to find a satisfying balance between life roles. Directions for future research are also discussed.

Career Development among First-Year College Students: College Self-Efficacy, Student Persistence, and Academic Success.

The present study investigates the career development of college student persistence decisions through the theoretical lens of social cognitive career theory (SCCT). Specifically, the authors sought to understand the potential role of college self-efficacy in first-year student persistence and academic success at a medium size university. Using a final sample of 401 undergraduates, regression analyses suggested that increased levels of college self-efficacy at the first semester’s end were associated with greater odds of persisting into the Spring semester and of being academically successful, after controlling for gender, ethnicity, first-generation status, high school grade point average (GPA), and initial level of college self-efficacy. Results suggest that college self-efficacy may be an important cognitive variable in college students’ persistence decisions and their academic success, which offers additional information about their early career development and is valuable for career counselors to consider. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed.

The Impact of Attachment on Career-Related Variables: A Review of the Literature and Proposed Theoretical Framework to Guide Future Research.

There has been a significant amount of research investigation focused on the construct of attachment, and also a significant amount of research investigation using the social cognitive career theory (SCCT). More recently, researchers have investigated the influence of attachment on career-related variables. Studies that focus on both attachment and career-related variables are reviewed in this article. Findings from the majority of studies reviewed support the assertion that attachment could be a crucial factor in career development. A limitation of past research has been the lack of a theoretical framework that explains the relationship between attachment constructs and career-related variables. To address this limitation, the authors propose that the combination of attachment theory and SCCT could provide a useful and more comprehensive framework to guide future research in this area. The integration of the two theories is explained, and suggestions for career counseling practice and future research are provided.

Student evaluations of teaching: combining the meta-analyses and demonstrating further evidence for effective use

There is a plethora of research on student evaluations of teaching (SETs) regarding their validity, susceptibility to bias, practical use and effective implementation. Given that there is not one study summarising all these domains of research, a comprehensive overview of SETs was conducted by combining all prior meta-analyses related to SETs. Eleven meta-analyses were identified, and nine meta-analyses covering 193 studies were included in the analysis, which yielded a small-to-medium overall weighted mean effect size (r = .26) between SETs and the variables studied. Findings suggest that SETs appear to be valid, have practical use that is largely free from gender bias and are most effective when implemented with consultation strategies. Research, teaching and policy implications are discussed.

Major Life Decisions of Gifted Adults in Relation to Overall Life Satisfaction

In this study, major life decisions of gifted adults were examined in relation to life satisfaction. Participants were 57 gifted adults who have been participating in a longitudinal study over the last two decades. Qualitative data were collected via written and online surveys, and were analyzed by a research team using phenomenological, postpositivist, consensus-seeking methods. Participants’ decisions were categorized according to their developmental stage at the time of the decision. Their perspectives regarding major life decisions, life satisfaction, career, romantic relationships, family relationships, and personal well-being are described and discussed in relation to existing knowledge and literature on gifted adults. Suggestions for counselors and educators are provided, based on the findings of this study.

Development of a Self-Determination Measure for College Students Validity Evidence for the Basic Needs Satisfaction at College Scale

We adapted a work self-determination measure to create the Basic Needs Satisfaction at College Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory analyses with data from 525 adults supported a 3-factor model with 13 items most sensitive for lower to middle range levels of the autonomy, competence, and relatedness constructs.

Development of the Social Efficacy and Social Outcome Expectations Scale.

The current study developed an 18-item scale measuring individuals’ social expectations in relationships related to their efficacy expectations (Subscale 1) and outcome expectations (Subscale 2) based on Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, using an undergraduate sample (N = 486), revealed strong psychometric evidence for this scale.

Evaluating anticipatory grief as a moderator of life and marital satisfaction for spousal caregivers of individuals with dementia

ABSTRACT It is important to understand the role that anticipatory grief may have in moderating the interaction between relationship quality and marital and life satisfaction to help improve the awareness among professionals when identifying challenges individuals may experience while providing care to their romantic partner. This awareness may then lead to new ways of providing education or intervention to caregivers that may result in higher quality of care to individuals with dementia. The purpose of this study was to provide increasing awareness by evaluating the moderating role of anticipatory grief between perceptions of the relationship and marriage and life satisfaction. The sample of this study consisted of 90 spousal caregivers of individuals with dementia. Multiple regression was used and it was found that attachment and perceived closeness significantly predict satisfaction with life and marriage. Tests of moderation did not demonstrate that anticipatory grief served as a moderator for marital satisfaction or life satisfaction. The findings from the study provide information related to informing and structuring interventions and psychoeducation activities for spousal caregivers.