Adolescents' Beliefs about Math Ability and Their Relations to STEM Career Attainment: Joint Consideration of Race/ethnicity and Gender

Journal of Youth and Adolescence
Eunjin SeoEdna C Alfaro

Abstract

Much of the workforce demand in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the United States goes unmet, and females and racial/ethnic minorities are vastly underrepresented in these fields. To understand the psychological antecedents for STEM career attainment, this study took an intersectional approach and examined racial/ethnic and gender differences in youth's math-related ability beliefs-growth mindset, self-concept, and career expectancy-and their longitudinal relations to STEM career attainment. Specifically, the study utilized nationally representative data of 10th graders over 10 years (n ~ = 14,320, Mage = 16.46, 50.4% female; 60.6% White, 15.5% Latinx, 14.1% Black, 9.8% Asian). The results indicated that youth's math-related ability beliefs positively predicted their later STEM career outcomes. Furthermore, female adolescents' math self-concept was more negative than male adolescents among Whites and Latinxs but not among Blacks and Asians. Black adolescents did not fully garner the advantage of having positive self-concept. Finally, high school math achievement did not predict Latina and Black youth's STEM career expectancy. The current findings inform future interventions that different ability bel...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 1, 2021·Acta Psychologica·Lital Daches CohenOrly Rubinsten

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