The Influence of Personal Skills Development and Coping Self-Efficacy on the Affective Occupational Commitment of Women in STEM Fields

Blaique, Lama; Pinnington, Ashly H.; Al-Malkawi, H.-A; Aldabbas, Hazem

Abstract

Purpose: Despite continuing under-representation of women in STEM fields, the literature still falls short on identifying and explaining the factors that could contribute to women's persistence and commitment. The purpose of this research is to identify cognitive and behavioural factors that will support the occupational commitment of women in STEM. Design: Quantitative analysis is based on a questionnaire survey of 375 women working in STEM in the Middle East region. Multiple regression and bootstrapping methods were employed in the analysis of the data. Finding: The results support the following hypotheses: Personal skills development has a positive impact on affective occupational commitment and coping self-efficacy; and, coping self-efficacy mediates the relationship between personal skills development and affective occupational commitment. Originality: This study adds insights on the dynamic approaches adopted by women in STEM fields to overcome occupational career challenges by testing several internal drivers, coping self-efficacy and personal learning.

Citation

Blaique, L., Pinnington, A. H., Al-Malkawi, H.-A., & Aldabbas, H. (2023). The Influence of Personal Skills Development and Coping Self-Efficacy on the Affective Occupational Commitment of Women in STEM Fields. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 42(2), 173-192. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-10-2021-0264

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 10, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Aug 30, 2022
• Publication Date: Mar 21, 2023
• Deposit Date: Nov 14, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 24, 2023
• Journal: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal
• Print ISSN: 2040-7149
• Electronic ISSN: 1758-7093
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 173-192
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-10-2021-0264
• Keywords: Coping self-efficacy; affective occupational commitment; personal learning; Social Cognitive Career Theory; women in STEM 2
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/27370510
• Publisher URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/EDI-10-2021-0264/full/html