Work Values of Freshmen in Allied Health and Helping Professions: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The overall purposes of this study were to assess and compare the nature of the relationships between work values and vocational choices in a sample of Israeli freshmen aspiring to careers in allied health and helping professions following Super's (1970) self-concept developmental theory of vocational behavior. Results show that work values held by freshmen aspiring to careers in occupational therapy were the most heterogeneous among the four subgroups in the study. Results indicate that these freshmen tend to attach less importance to intellectual stimulation, associates, creativity, management, and prestige, and higher importance to aesthetics. The study has demonstrated significant differences among the work values of the four educational programs. For freshmen enrolled in therapy-oriented programs (occupational and physical therapy), job-related challenge, relationships, and creativity are less important than for freshmen enrolled in the service-oriented programs (special education and nursing). For freshmen enrolled in allied health programs (occupational and physical therapy and nursing), job-related prestige and challenge are more important than to those enrolled in a helping profession program (special education). Freshmen enrolled in occupational therapy are separated from all other freshmen on job-related aesthetics and management. While the former is most important to these freshmen, the latter is the least important.