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The effects of vocational interest on study results: Student person - environment fit and program interest diversity.

ABSTRACT: The extent to which a good person-environment (PE) interest fit between student and study program leads to better study results in higher education is an ongoing debate wherein the role of the study program environment has remained inadequately studied. Unanswered questions include: how diverse study programs are in the interests of their student populations, and how this program interest diversity influences study results, in comparison to individual PE fit? The present study addressed these questions in students (N = 4,635) enrolled in open-access university education. In such an open access system, students are allowed to make study choices without prior limitations based on previous achievement or high stakes testing. Starting from the homogeneity assumption applied to this open access setting, we propose several hypotheses regarding program interest diversity, motivation, student-program interest fit, and study results. Furthermore, we applied a method of measuring interest diversity based on an existing measure of correlational person-environment fit. Results indicated that interest diversity in an open access study environment was low across study programs. Results also showed the variance present in program interest diversity was linked to autonomous and controlled motivation in the programs' student populations. Finally, program interest diversity better explained study results than individual student fit with their program of choice. Indeed, program interest diversity explained up to 44% of the variance in the average program's study results while individual student-program fit hardly predicted study success at all. Educational policy makers should therefore be aware of the importance of both interest fit and interest diversity during the process of study orientation.

SUBMITTER: Schelfhout S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6448847 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundAnalysis on gender related differences in occupational stress and burnout levels usually reveal higher occupational stress and burnout levels for women compared to men, especially in male-dominated working environments. In opposition to group differentiation, more specific gender-related dimensions feminity and masculinity were used in the study to describe individual and work environment characteristics and analyze their effects.MethodsIn a cross-sectional design, survey results were linked to steroid levels in hair samples. Data was collected in a German medical services company with 146 employed women age 22-66 years (M = 40.48, SD = 10.38), 58 of them provided hair samples for steroid detection. Feminity and masculinity were measured by Gender Role Orientation Scale GTS+. Two Person-Environment fit scores in feminity and masculinity were calculated by subtracting individual from environment values. Both fit scores were proved as predictors in hierarchical linear regression models predicting burnout and work engagement as well as hair steroids cortisol, cortisone, DHEA, testosterone and progesterone detected by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as stress biomarkers. Bivariate correlations as well as moderator and mediator analysis were implemented.ResultsAfter considering age, role clarity, and work organization, Person-Environment fit in feminity still added significant variance explanation (β = .23, ∆ R2 = .05, p = .003) for burnout. Person-Environment fit in feminity also explained poor variance in work engagement (β = -.29, R2 = .09, p < .001). Person-Environment fit in masculinity added considerable variance explanation (β = .34, ∆ R2 = .12, p = 0.018) to cortisol levels after including quantitative demands to the model.ConclusionsPerson-Environment fit in feminity might be inspected as a predictor for burnout and work engagement. Person-Environment fit in masculinity can be taken into consideration as a predictor for hair cortisol as stress biomarker. Feminity and masculinity can be used as personality traits as well as characteristics of work environment, thus providing a particular gender-role related method of differentiation within gender groups. Also, specific methods could be derived for stress and burnout prevention and promotion of work engagement. Representative population studies with bigger samples and longitudinal surveys are needed to better explore the benefits and limitations of this approach.

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The effects of vocational interest on study results: Student person - environment fit and program interest diversity.

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