Males in Nurse Technician Programs: A Social Cognitive Analysis of Gender Gaps in Career Development

• In Event: Career and Technical Education SIG Paper Session: Career and Technical Education Student Persistence, Completion, and Outcomes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to use Social Cognitive Career Theory to examine differences in the career development of men and women enrolled in nursing technician programs in Chile. Participants were undergraduate nursing students (N = 652) recruited from five Chilean postsecondary vocational-technical education institutions. We used structural equation modeling to test our hypotheses. We found that self-efficacy was positively predicted by parental support, faculty support, and faculty barriers, and negatively by vocational barriers. Men experienced more job discrimination barriers, faculty barriers, vocational barriers, and faculty support, and had higher scores for actions. Women scored higher in parental support. The only significant difference we found between men and women suggests that self-efficacy is more important for women.

Authors

• María Paola Sevilla, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
  Presenting Author

• Virginia W. Snodgrass Rangel, University of Houston
  Presenting Author