Battered Women's Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy: Further Insights and Contributing Factors

Abstract

A sample of battered women were surveyed regarding their perceived career barriers, self-esteem, locus of control, work-role attitudes, and self-efficacy for making career decisions. In addition, an investigation of these variables with respect to the battered woman's self-reported employment status was provided. Also included was an examination of battered women's beliefs about how the shelters could assist them in their career planning and implementation. Findings revealed that (a) unemployed battered women scored lower on career decision-making self-efficacy and endorsed a more traditional work role attitude as compared to employed battered women, (b) high self-esteem was related to greater self-efficacy for making career decisions, (c) an internal orientation was related to high self-esteem, and (d) higher perceptions of career barriers were related to an external expectancy. Further, self-esteem emerged as the most significant contributor to battered women's self-efficacy for career decision-making tasks. Battered women expressed assistance from shelters in finding secure employment and furthering their education.