Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2008):

Gender variation in developmental trajectories of educational and occupational expectations and attainment from adolescence to adulthood.

Full Abstract

Adolescents' future expectations are a potentially important precursor of adult attainment and may illuminate how males and females vary in schooling and work. Thus, this longitudinal study examined gender variation in developmental trajectories of educational and occupational expectations from adolescence to adulthood and in connection to corresponding adult attainment. National data (NELS:88) including individuals aged 14 to 26 and hierarchical linear modeling analyses yielded several findings: Males and females had similar developmental trajectories of educational expectations from adolescence to adulthood with the sample average expecting to attend college. Probabilities of expecting a professional occupation were lower for males than females. Adolescent educational and occupational expectations predicted corresponding attainment in adulthood, although the relationship varied by gender. Males who reported high occupational expectations in adolescence had higher occupational attainment in adulthood compared to males with low occupational expectations, whereas females' adult occupational attainment did not vary by their adolescent occupational expectations. Gender variation in expectations and attainment is discussed in light of historical changes, and future directions of research are proposed.

Author information

Author/s: Mello, Zena R (ZR);

Affiliation: Department of Cognition and Development, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1670, USA. mello(-atsign-)berkeley.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Developmental psychology (Dev Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 44 (issue 4) : pp 1069-80

Dates: Created 2008/07/08; Completed 2008/11/18;

PMID: 18605835, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Achievement Adolescent Adolescent Psychology Adult Aspirations (Psychology) Career Choice Female

Gender Identity Humans Longitudinal Studies Male Personality Development Set (Psychology) Stereotyping

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