Journal of College Student Development

We investigated psychological distress and vocational problems presented by university students seeking help at a university counseling center (N = 597, 68% female, 12% African American, 9% Asian American, 58% White). All students reported distress in several areas, but African American students in particular perceived barriers when pursuing their vocational goals and Asian American students were unclear about their vocational identity. Especially for White students vocational difficulties correlated with psychological distress, and for women in particular anxiety and depression symptoms and perceived vocational barriers related to how well they functioned in school and in relationships.