– Friendship group characteristics account for variation in STEM career interest beyond what is accounted for by science motivation.
– Gender, science expectancy, science value, group STEM climate, and group importance were significant predictors of interest in a STEM career. Specifically, being male, being high in science ability beliefs and science value, and being part of a friendship group high in STEM support independently predicted greater interest in a STEM career.
– As science value increased, interest in a STEM career increased most rapidly among participants with an important friendship group that had a supportive STEM climate.
– Among participants with a low proportion of same-gender friends, the difference between boys’ and girls’ interest in a STEM career was less pronounced for participants high in science value.
– Having a friendship group that is less supportive of STEM and predominantly comprised of girls may have been especially detrimental to girls’ interest in a STEM career.
– Findings suggest social identities and self-concepts may shape youths’ STEM career choices.