The relationship between race-related stress and the career planning and confidence for African-American college students

Abstract

The literature on multiculturalism and career counseling (Harro, 2010) has extensively documented the role and influence of environments such as schools in the perpetuation of behavioral attitudes like discrimination and racism. Indeed, researchers have suggested that early experiences of racial discrimination in school may lead African-Americans to believe that their education will not benefit them (O’Hara et. al., 2011). They may perceive that racial barriers will hold them back regardless of hard work. It is of great importance that rehabilitation, school, and college counselors understand the effects of racism on the lives of African-American students to avoid permitting it to lead to academic underachievement and low participation in higher education. This includes the effects of stress related experiences of racism on the attainment of a vocational or career goal. This study of African American college students at a predominantly White institution explores the relationship between race-related stress and participants’ occupational planning and confidence. Many of the participants have demonstrated elements of what Lent, Brown, and Hackett (2000) identify as self-efficacy in that the majority have already selected an area of academic concentration for their bachelor’s degree, many of them in careers of high demand like engineering. Thus, the career selection process is likely underway. Results of the analysis reveal that they consider it important to consider race-related stress in choosing a career, but that racerelated stress does not affect their career confidence. However, their low scores and negative correlations in the Career Planning area suggest they have done little to achieve a career path beyond selecting a field of study. The study does not address whether this omission reflects interest or opportunity, as access to resources like career counseling or guidance is outside its scope. Future research should replicate this study with a larger sample size and with access to