Self-Awareness and Parental Support in Career Planning of Private University Students: Mediating Decision-Making Self-Efficacy

Abstract

Background: This study explores the associations between self-awareness, parental support, and career planning among university students, with career decision-making self-efficacy as a mediator and academic year as a control variable. Data were obtained from 1,822 undergraduates at private universities in Changchun,China.
Methods: A quantitative survey design was adopted using validated scales. Data were processed in SPSS, and hypothesized relationships were examined through PLS-based structural equation modeling.
Results: Career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) emerges as a strong predictor of career planning (CP). Parental support (PS) shows a positive relationship with career planning, while self-awareness (SA) has a weaker yet significant effect. CDMSE fully mediates the relationship between self-awareness and career planning and partially mediates the effect of parental support.