Model of Career and Achievement Motivation for Women and Men

The multidimensional model presented in this article is an attempt to extend previous models, which have been incomplete and too narrowly focused. The model includes three sets of influences-Background, Personal, and Environmental-on three motivation dimensions: (a) aspiration, (b) mastery, and (c) career commitment. Subjects were young men and women (N = 1,863). Hierarchical set multiple regression analyses indicated that all three sets of influences significantly (p < .001) related to each of the three motivation dimensions. Path analyses obtained fitted models with the same sets of influences and identified significant (p < .05) indirect effects as well as direct effects on each motivation dimension. These findings permit optimism for increasing motivation by targeting change efforts on some of the modifiable environment and personal influences. The findings from the fitted models also extend theory related to each of the three motivation dimensions studied.