Factors influencing career advancement of Thai female government foreign-service officials

Abstract

This is the explanatory mixed-method study by starting with the quantitative research and ending with the qualitative research to investigate the influences of personal attributes, family support, and organizational support on career advancement, and to examine the mediating effect of readiness and the moderating effect of gender-role attitudes on those influential paths. Data collection for the quantitative research was conducted by using self-administered questionnaire from 299 female foreign-serviced officials from 6 Thai public organizations. Semi-structured interview was subsequently conducted for the qualitative research to collect data from 15 female foreign-service officials. Data analysis for the questionnaire was performed by SEM, Sobel’s z-test, and a conditional effect of PROCESS Model 1, whereases, investigator triangulation was employed as data analysis for the semi-structured interview to help explain the quantitative statistical results. The measurement model demonstrated a good model fit, with SRMR < 0.08; Cronbach’s alpha (α) > 0.70; Dijkstra-Henseler’s rho (ρA) and Jöreskog’s rho (ρc) between 0.92 - 1.00; HTMT < 1.00; AVE > 0.50; loadings > 0.50, with statistical significance; Fornell-Larcker criterion was higher than its squared correlations with all other constructs; and cross loadings were lesser than loadings. The research findings revealed that there was a combination of factors influencing female career advancement in the Thai foreign-service sphere. The research findings provide theoretical, practical, and social implications, especially new knowledge found on readiness and those implications, related to SDG Goal 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment.