University students’ career adaptability as a mediator between cognitive emotion regulation and career decision-making self-efficacy

Abstract

As modern society experiences rapid changes, the unpredictability of the labor market is increasing. University students preparing to join the workforce may experience increased anxiety and stress due to the heightened uncertainty regarding their career plans. Regulating such negative emotions and adjusting to the changing circumstances may influence their career development. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation (CER) — specifically adaptive CER and maladaptive CER — and career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE), with career adaptability (CA) as a mediating factor. The path analysis model consisting of adaptive CER, maladaptive CER, CA, and CDMSE was tested with 357 Korean university students who were facing the school-to-work transition. The results of the study were as follows. First, adaptive CER was positively related to CA and CDMSE, while maladaptive CER was negatively related to CA only. Second, CA and CDMSE were positively related. Third, CA partially mediated the relationship between adaptive CER and CDMSE and fully mediated the relationship between maladaptive CER and CDMSE. Based on these results, theoretical and practical implications are proposed, and the limitations of the study are discussed.

Career decision profiles and characteristics of nursing students

“…Additionally, adaptability was higher with higher self-efficacy. These results are similar to previous findings of positive correlations between preparation and self-efficacy among university students, and between preparation and adaptability, and between self-efficacy and adaptability [10].…”

“…We selected the study variables (barriers, preparation, self efficacy, and adaptability) based on previous studies [5,10]. Recent studies conducted to aid in evaluating and developing interventions tailored to college students' various career decision profiles (CDPs) [15,17] examined students with decided and undecided career paths; they indicate that failing to consider differences in career development characteristics between these two groups may undermine career counseling and intervention effectiveness.…”

“…Park and Kang [5] reported that career preparation behaviors declined with increased perceptions of barriers. Lee and Jung [10] found a relationship between low level of career preparation and perceived barriers among students.…”

Invest in Your Mental Health, Support Your Career. Exploring the Impact of Mental Health Activities on Movement Capital and the Mediating Role of Flourishing and Career Engagement during the Transition to Work

“…Tension-alleviating techniques (i.e., emotion regulation) downplay the impact of intrusive and negative career thoughts [43]. As such, they enhance career decision-making processes [44], producing more precise career goals and stronger commitment [45], ultimately strengthening career identity [43].…”