Examining the Associations between Ethnic-Racial Identity, Career Outcome Expectations, and STEM Aspirations among Black and Latine Adolescents
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| Title: | Examining the Associations between Ethnic-Racial Identity, Career Outcome Expectations, and STEM Aspirations among Black and Latine Adolescents |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Tate LeBlanc (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal for STEM Education Research. 2025 8(3):408-430. |
| Availability: | Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 23 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Science Foundation (NSF) |
| Contract Number: | 1906954 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Ethnicity, Racial Identification, Occupational Aspiration, Expectation, STEM Careers, African American Students, Hispanic American Students, Adolescents, Predictor Variables, Success, Culturally Relevant Education, STEM Education, Secondary School Students |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s41979-025-00156-1 |
| ISSN: | 2520-8705 2520-8713 |
| Abstract: | Despite facing systemic and persistent exclusion from STEM careers, Black and Latine youth show rising STEM aspirations during adolescence under certain conditions. Guided by meaning-making and career development perspectives, this study explores how ethnic-racial identity and career outcome expectations predict STEM aspirations among Black and Latine youth through testing of individually and ecologically driven path models. We examined survey data from an analytic sample of 764 adolescents (60% Latine, 40% Black; 56% girls). The individually driven model offered a better fit for the data. Career outcome expectations were consistently linked, both directly and indirectly (e.g., via STEM social recognition), with STEM aspirations. Findings suggest that Black and Latine youths' expectations for success in their career exploration may crystallize earlier in development (e.g., childhood), indicating the need for culturally affirming STEM education to be offered prior to adolescence. Directions for future research are discussed. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1482731 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Despite facing systemic and persistent exclusion from STEM careers, Black and Latine youth show rising STEM aspirations during adolescence under certain conditions. Guided by meaning-making and career development perspectives, this study explores how ethnic-racial identity and career outcome expectations predict STEM aspirations among Black and Latine youth through testing of individually and ecologically driven path models. We examined survey data from an analytic sample of 764 adolescents (60% Latine, 40% Black; 56% girls). The individually driven model offered a better fit for the data. Career outcome expectations were consistently linked, both directly and indirectly (e.g., via STEM social recognition), with STEM aspirations. Findings suggest that Black and Latine youths' expectations for success in their career exploration may crystallize earlier in development (e.g., childhood), indicating the need for culturally affirming STEM education to be offered prior to adolescence. Directions for future research are discussed. |
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| ISSN: | 2520-8705 2520-8713 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s41979-025-00156-1 |
