SEX, SEX-ROLE SELF-CONCEPTS AND CAREER DECISION MAKING SELF-EFFICACY AMONG ARAB STUDENTS

Abstract

The present study was done to explore the relationships of sex and sex-role self-concepts with career decision-making self-efficacy expectations (CDMSE). A set of questionnaires was administered to three samples of Arab college students, which consisted of 95 Qatari men, 145 Qatari women and 89 Kuwaiti women. Results indicated that sex had a negligible effect on career decision-making self-efficacy, and instrumental (masculine) attributes had a considerably stronger positive relationship with career decision-making self-efficacy than expressive (feminine) attributes. In the three samples under study, androgynous and masculine self-concepts scored higher on career decision-making self-efficacy than undifferentiated self-concepts. Among Qatari men and Kuwaiti women, but not Qatari women, androgynous and masculine self-concepts were superior to feminine self-concepts. Results and implications are discussed in the context of Arab sociopolitical environment.