As a result of a relative lack of cross-cultural validity in most current (Western) psychological models, indigenous models of psychology have recently become a popular approach for understanding behaviour in specific cultures. Such models would be valuable to vocational psychology research with culturally diverse populations. Problems facing…

This study compared the pattern of relationships among personality, vocational interests, and career exploration within an integrated framework between 369 American and 392 Hong Kong university students. The first hypothesis predicted differential contributions of the universal and indigenous personality dimensions based on the Cross-cultural…

This study investigated the cross-cultural differences on state, trait, and social anxiety between Chinese and Caucasian American university students. Chinese students reported higher levels of social anxiety than did Caucasian American students. Correlations between trait and state anxiety were compared in light of the trait model of…

Natives of India (n=172) completed Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory and job satisfaction measures. The inventory did not exhibit high external validity with this population. Congruence, consistency, and differentiation did not predict job or occupational satisfaction, suggesting cross-cultural limits on Holland's theory. (SK)

The unisex edition of the ACT Interest Inventory was completed by 180 white U.S. and 184 Singaporean students (the dominant group in their respective cultures). Similar structural and criterion-related validity indicated the stability of Holland's model. A need to evaluate the cultural equivalence of the meanings of Holland's constructs was…

Uses the theoretical framework of cultural validity and cultural specificity in career psychology to comment on theoretical and methodological issues raised by two articles on cross-cultural career psychology. Discusses the distinction between etic and emic approaches to cross-cultural research and the role of cultural context in understanding…

A study of 1,813 college freshmen in Hong Kong showed that Holland's model of interests and personality types has considerable external validity. Students with stronger traditional Chinese values behaved less consistently with Holland's model than those with weaker traditional values. (SK)

Proposes a model for examining the challenges of providing career counseling in Asia in terms of prevailing and countervailing forces. The model also suggests a need to avoid a simple importation of Western models of career counseling, which may not be an optimal fit for the Asian cultural context. Instead, the cultural accommodation approach is…

Using Berry's (1980) acculturation model as our theoretical foundation, we provide a conceptual framework for the cross-cultural analysis of academic careers in Asia in contrast to the United States. Consistent with Berry's model, we propose a classification of three approaches to research (Adopted Western, Asian, and Integrationist) that can be…

Over the past few decades there has been a rapid increase in the number of international students coming to study in the United States. While some recent studies have begun to examine the academic and career needs of international students, most of these studies did not directly compare the needs of international students to those of American…

Administered career development instruments to Asian-American (n=63) and White-American (n=83) college students. Compared to White Americans, Asian Americans had greater preferences for dependent decision-making styles and lower level of career maturity and placed greater emphasis on extrinsic and security occupational value clusters. Found no…

Examined cross-cultural variations in stress among Asian and Caucasian graduate students (N=204). Analyzed surveys measuring life stress, physical health complaints, and psychological health. Findings indicated some cross-cultural variations in stress and adjustment among graduate students, with Asian graduate students experiencing fewer stressful…

Provides a critical review of the theoretical and empirical literature on cross-cultural counseling supervision. Presents a summary and critique of this literature, as well as recommendations for future research. Concludes that most knowledge in this field arises from theory rather than from empirical research. (RJM)