SELF-EFFICACY AS A MEDIATOR OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED UNION BARRIERS AND WOMENS PARTICIPATION IN UNION ACTIVITIES

This study investigated the influence of union self-efficacy (expectat ions of success in pursuit of union activities) as a mediator of the r elationship between perceptions of barriers to union participation and women's participation in union activities (N = 89). Perceived barrier s were defined in 4 domains (community, family, union, work), and self -efficacy was operationalized based on C. Lee and P. Bobko's (1994) an alysis of self-efficacy measures (self-efficacy magnitude, self-effica cy strength). Union self-efficacy was found to mediate the relationshi p between the magnitude of perceived union barriers and the magnitude of union participation, although mediation was limited to women with w eak union self-efficacy. Implications for designing training and inter vention programs to enhance women's participation in the face of perce ived barriers are discussed.