Correlates of Mexican American College Students' Perceptions of Career-Related Barriers.

This study examined Mexican American college students' perceptions of career-related barriers and the relationship between perceptions and the students' sense of control over and responsibility for career decision making. Mexican American students (57 men and 68 women) at a state-supported university in the Southwest completed a demographic questionnaire and two career assessments: the Career Beliefs Inventory and the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale (CDMSE)--Short Form. No sex differences among the criterion variables were identified. No significant relationship was found between the number of past career-related barriers and CDMSE; however, a significant negative relationship was found between CDMSE and the number of future barriers perceived. The more future career-related barriers students perceived, the lower their CDMSE was likely to be. Study skills and financial problems were the two most cited past and future career-related barriers. Students who exhibited relatively high levels of control and responsibility regarding career decision making tended to perceive the fewest barriers to achieving their career goals. It was recommended that counselors help Mexican American students differentiate between real and perceived barriers and develop realistic perceptions related to occupational goals and career development. (Contains 38 references.) (MN)