Work

Co-development of career adaptability and academic self-efficacy in college: A four-wave investigation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study examined the co-development of career adaptability and academic self-efficacy during college and their associations with earlier self-determined motivations for choosing college majors (SDMM). Participants were 744 college students ( M age = 18.63 years) in China taking online surveys annually from freshman to senior years. Participants reported on career adaptability and academic self-efficacy from sophomore to senior years, with SDMM assessed in freshman year. Latent growth modelling showed generally linear increases in career adaptability and academic self-efficacy from sophomore to senior years. Students with higher career adaptability in sophomore year had higher academic self-efficacy in sophomore year; similar positive associations emerged for the change rates of career adaptability and academic self-efficacy over time. Importantly, SDMM in freshman year predicted higher academic self-efficacy in sophomore year and faster increases in career adaptability from sophomore to senior years. These findings underscored the significance of SDMM in students' later career and academic development.

Source: Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2025.101792

Authors: Cong Yi, Yonghe Ti, Yanyan Liu, Yisi Zhan, Jun Wei

Institutions: Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua University, University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Career Development and Diversity

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,580