Finland is known worldwide for their strong K–12 education system and robust gender equality across their nation. However, these facts have not translated into strong representation of women in physics degree attainment and the workforce. This study seeks to understand the motivations and consideration to leave of university physics students in Finland, with a specific focus on gender. Undergraduate students’ aspiration to attend graduate school and graduate students’ aspiration for an academic career were also assessed. This study uses a survey instrument distributed to Finnish physics students at 5 of the 9 nationwide programs. The responses ($N=329$) indicate that anxiety increases a students’ consideration to leave and that women report higher anxiety and lower self-efficacy in their pursuit of a physics degree than men. Women were also more likely to report being extrinsically motivated to pursue physics than men. Positive intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy predicted the aspiration of graduate school for undergraduates, while only gender predicted interest in academic careers by men and nonacademic careers for women.

中文翻译：

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芬兰大学物理专业学生的性别动机和志向

芬兰因其强大的K-12教育体系和强大的两性平等享誉全球。但是，这些事实并未转化为女性在物理学位和劳动力中的重要代表。本研究旨在了解芬兰大学物理专业学生离职的动机和考虑因素，特别关注性别问题。还评估了本科生就读研究生的愿望和研究生对学术职业的渴望。这项研究使用了一种调查工具，向9个全国性计划中的5个计划的芬兰物理学生分发。回应（$ñ=329$）表明，焦虑会增加学生对休假的考虑，并且女性在追求物理学位时会比男性报告更高的焦虑和较低的自我效能感。女性也比男性更有可能报告说自己出于外在动机追求物理学。积极的内在动力和自我效能感预示了本科生对研究生的渴望，而只有性别预示着男性对学术职业的兴趣和女性对非学术职业的兴趣。