Linking protean career orientation and career decidedness: The mediating role of career decision self-efficacy

• Published in: Journal of vocational behavior 2019-12, Vol.115, p.103322, Article 103322
• Main Authors: Li, Hui, Ngo, Hang-yue, Cheung, Francis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptability; Career adaptability; Career decidedness; Career decision self-efficacy; Career development planning; Careers; College students; Decision making; Protean career orientation; Self-efficacy; University students
• ISSN: 0001-8791; 1095-9084
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103322

This study examines the linkage between protean career orientation and career decidedness. It also explores the possible mediating roles of career decision self-efficacy and career adaptability in the above relationship. Several hypotheses are developed and tested with data collected from university students in Hong Kong and the United States. Results of structural equation modeling and bootstrapping indicate that protean career orientation is positively related to career decision self-efficacy and career adaptability. Career decision self efficacy, but not career adaptability, is found to mediate the relationship between protean career orientation and career decidedness. The two samples show the same structural model results, based on cross cultural equivalence test. •The relationship between protean career orientation and career decidedness among university students was investigated.•Informed by social cognitive career theory and career construction theory, the mechanisms of the relationship were explored.•Results indicated that protean career orientation was predictive of career decision self-efficacy and career adaptability.•Career decision self-efficacy, but not career adaptability, was found to mediate the above relationship.•Same results were obtained for the two samples collected in Hong Kong and the United States.