Encouraging China’s College Students to Achieve Sustainable Careers: Evidence from Structural Equation Modeling

Jingchao Wu and Teng Zhao ()
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Jingchao Wu: Zhejiang Academy of Higher Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Teng Zhao: Zhejiang Academy of Higher Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: China’s college graduates are experiencing extreme employment pressure, especially under the effects brought about by COVID-19. This study examines whether career-related psychological factors jointly affect college students’ career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) to achieve sustainable career development. Leveraging self-administrated survey data with 703 undergraduate students, we find that career awareness, job search self-efficacy (JSSE), and career planning ability positively relate to CDMSE. We also find that career awareness positively correlates with JSSE and career planning ability. In addition, the results support that perceived career reality positively relates to JSSE and career planning ability. However, no evidence indicates the positive relationship between perceived career reality and CDMSE. Furthermore, mediation tests confirm that JSSE and career planning ability partially mediate the relationship between career awareness and CDMSE. Practical implications, limitations, and future directions are also discussed.

Keywords: sustainable career development; career decision-making self-efficacy; China; undergraduate students; structural equation modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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