Predicting Study Abroad Interests and Choice Goals Through Social Cognitive Career Theory

Abstract

Studying abroad in college is an educational choice that has significant implications for students’ personal, academic, and career development. Applying the Social Cognitive Career Theory interests and choice models (SCCT; Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994), this study examined social cognitive predictors of study abroad interest and intent. First, the psychometric properties of new and revised domain-specific social cognitive variables were assessed with an initial sample of students (N = 325) from a Mid-Atlantic university, yielding 8 factors and adequate factor-derived psychometrics. This was followed by measurement model testing on a second, nationwide sample of students (N = 277), which showed that the overall model fit indices offered good fit to the data. Regressions on the second sample produced support for most of the SCCT paths predicting study abroad interests and study abroad intent. Finally, practice-based implications and directions for future research are discussed.