Moving beyond a deficit model to describe and promote the career development of at-risk youth

A theoretical framework for understanding the career maturity of diverse gr oups is needed since the career maturity construct has evolved using white, middle class samples (Cheatham, 1990). Krumboltz holds that career beliefs can be influenced by one's social environment (1991). If career beliefs we re related to the career maturity of a diverse group, they could be used to provide a more coherent understanding of the unique social experiences tha t surround their career maturity. This study examined relationships between the career beliefs and the career maturity of academically at-risk student s who were failing core academic courses. Several career beliefs were signi ficantly related to the career maturity of the sample in this study such as the belief that obstacles can be overcome and college/occupation variation . The career beliefs construct appeared to clarify the role that social exp eriences played on the career maturity of the sample in this study.