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The association between work and family importance and job search behavior among career-interrupted men and women

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International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study examined how the personal importance of work and family were associated with job search behavior, and whether there were any gender differences in those associations. A sample of 284 career-interrupted women and men participated in the study. Accordingly, job search behavior and antecedent variables—including personal importance of work and family—were measured. Using regression analyses, gender differences in job search behavior were found. Personal importance of work and family also played significant roles, but in different ways for men and women, suggesting that differential societal norms may be at play.

Résumé

L'association entre l'importance du travail et de la famille et le comportement de recherche d'emploi chez les hommes et les femmes en interruption de carrière. La présente étude a examiné comment l'importance personnelle du travail et de la famille était associée au comportement de recherche d'emploi, et s'il y avait des différences entre les genres dans ces associations. Un échantillon de 284 femmes et hommes ayant interrompu leur carrière a participé à l'étude. Par conséquent, le comportement de recherche d'emploi et les variables antécédentes—y compris l'importance personnelle du travail et de la famille—ont été mesurés. Des analyses de régression ont permis de constater des différences dans le comportement de recherche d’emploi. En effet, l'importance personnelle du travail et de la famille a également joué un rôle important, mais de manière différente pour les hommes et les femmes, ce qui suggère que différentes normes sociétales peuvent être en jeu.

Zusammenfassung

Der Zusammenhang zwischen der Bedeutung von Beruf und Familie und dem Verhalten bei der Arbeitssuche von Männern und Frauen mit Berufsunterbrechung. Die vorliegende Studie untersuchte, wie die persönliche Bedeutung von Beruf und Familie mit der Arbeitssuche zusammenhängt und ob es dabei geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede gibt. An der Studie nahmen 284 Frauen und Männer mit einer Berufsunterbrechung teil. Gemessen wurden Arbeitssuchverhalten und Antezendentenvariablen, einschließlich der persönlichen Bedeutung von Beruf und Familie. Mittels Regressionsanalysen wurden geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede im Arbeitssuchverhalten festgestellt. Tatsächlich spielte auch die persönliche Bedeutung von Beruf und Familie eine bedeutende Rolle, allerdings mit Unterschieden zwischen Männern und Frauen. Dies lässt sich möglicherweise auf unterschiedliche gesellschaftliche Normen zurückführen.

Resumen

La asociación entre la importancia del trabajo y la familia y el comportamiento de búsqueda de empleo entre hombres y mujeres con carrera interrumpida. El presente estudio examinó cómo la importancia personal del trabajo y la familia se asociaban con el comportamiento de búsqueda de empleo, y si había diferencias de género en esas asociaciones. En el estudio participó una muestra de 284 mujeres y hombres con carrera interrumpida. En consecuencia, se midió el comportamiento de búsqueda de empleo y las variables antecedentes-incluida la importancia personal del trabajo y la familia-. Mediante análisis de regresión, se encontraron diferencias de género en el comportamiento de búsqueda de empleo. De hecho, la importancia personal del trabajo y de la familia también desempeñó un papel importante, pero de forma diferente para hombres y mujeres, lo que sugiere que las normas sociales diferenciales pueden estar en juego.

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Funding

This research was supported by Root Impact. This work was also supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2017S1A5A2A03068451). An earlier version of the manuscript was presented at the Annual Conference of International Association of Vocational and Educational Guidance.

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  1. Department of Education, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea

    Bora Lee

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Lee, B. The association between work and family importance and job search behavior among career-interrupted men and women. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-022-09577-5

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