Acculturation experience and career decision self-efficacy of young adult Somali asylum seekers

Abstract

The aims of this study were twofold: to investigate how Somali immigrants acculturate into the Maltese society and to inquire into their career search abilities; two issues which ultimately have the potential to increase one’s employability. A pen and paper method was used to test the acculturation and the career decision making self-efficacy of Somali immigrants. Responses obtained by means of a questionnaire distributed to 47 immigrants were studied together with any relevant comments passed during the administration of the questionnaire. The resulting data were then analysed according to age, status, level of education, and location of accommodation. The study shows a relationship between Somali immigrants' place of accommodation and their level of Maltese acculturation. Furthermore, they appear to find more difficulty in career related tasks that need to be accessed through the community, such as accessing occupational information. There is a weak positive correlation relationship between Somali immigrants’ acculturation and career decision making self-efficacy; however, all findings in this study are based on a very small sample of 35 valid responses and weak correlation relationships. These findings have considerable implications for the counselling profession, suggesting that Somali immigrants would benefit from being helped to move out of open centres and into the community, as well as with developing Maltese language and cultural competency. They could also benefit from classes that would enhance their career related tasks and perhaps challenge them into finding more culturally appropriate beliefs about their competences. This study presents suggestions for counselling the Maltese community; starting with a look at how open the Maltese community is to Somali immigrants and secondly identifying what would be a culturally appropriate education programme for both Somali and Maltese to help integration.