Cultural Relativity in the Conceptualization of Career Maturity

Abstract

The present study investigated whether theories and measurement of career maturity, because of their reliance on independence in career choice attitudes as a crucial variable, may be culturally relative and therefore less valid when working with Asian Americans. Asian American (n=182) and European American (n=235) college students completed Form B1 of the Crites Career Maturity Inventory (CMI), the Self-Construal Scale (SCS), and a demographic questionnaire. Asian American participants also completed the Suinn–Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA). As a group, Asian Americans exhibited less mature career choice attitudes than European Americans. However, High Acculturation Asian Americans and those with lower Interdependent self-construals did not differ from European Americans in maturity of career choice attitudes. Counseling implications are discussed.