The Effects of Internet-Based Cognitive Restructuring on the Irrational Career Beliefs of Adolescent Girls

This study explored the effect of Internet-based cognitive restructuring on the maladaptive career beliefs of adolescent girls. Participants were blocked on ethnicity and randomly assigned to either an interactive Internet treatment or to a control treatment involving computer-based instruction in another curriculum area. Scores on four measures reflecting irrational career beliefs and stereotyping were subjected to treatment-by-ethnicity-by-repeated-measures ANOVAs. A triple interaction on Self-Stereotyping (i.e., consistency between current career choice vs. career choice “if I were a boy”) suggested that the treatment was effective for Caucasians but not for minorities. Possible factors responsible for the outcome pattern are discussed.