RESEARCH ARTICLE
High School Students' Career Decision-Making Difficulties: A Multi-Factor Analysis Based on Career Construction Theory
Huaruo Chen,
Huadi Wang,
Ya Wen,
Xueping Shen,
Jie Xu,
Xueying Gu,
Wanru Song,
Huaruo Chen
College of Education Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China
Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Search for more papers by this authorHuadi Wang
School of Education Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorYa Wen
School of Teacher Education, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXueping Shen
Career Development Education Research Center, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorJie Xu
School of Education Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXueying Gu
School of Education Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Wanru Song
College of Education Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China
Correspondence: Wanru Song ([email protected])
Search for more papers by this authorHuaruo Chen,
Huadi Wang,
Ya Wen,
Xueping Shen,
Jie Xu,
Xueying Gu,
Wanru Song,
Huaruo Chen
College of Education Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China
Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Search for more papers by this authorHuadi Wang
School of Education Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorYa Wen
School of Teacher Education, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXueping Shen
Career Development Education Research Center, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorJie Xu
School of Education Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXueying Gu
School of Education Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Wanru Song
College of Education Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China
Correspondence: Wanru Song ([email protected])
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 29 March 2025
ABSTRACT
Drawing on survey data from 634 Chinese high school students, this study investigated the mechanisms of career decision-making through the lens of career construction theory. The findings revealed two key insights. First, career adaptability significantly mediated the relationship between students' need satisfaction and career decision-making difficulties. Second, while career exploration alone did not exhibit a direct mediating effect, it formed a chain mediation mechanism with career adaptability between need satisfaction and career decision-making difficulties. Additionally, the study identified a moderating role of career exploration in the relationship between need satisfaction and career decision-making difficulties. However, only high levels of career adaptability were found to effectively reduce such difficulties and enhance need satisfaction.
Summary
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High school students' career decision-making difficulties (CDMD) are shaped by individual-environment interactions, especially university major choices and employment trends.
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Career construction theory supports self-regulation and causal inference in high school students' career exploration.
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Career exploration and adaptability moderate the need satisfaction-CDMD relationship.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open Research
Data Availability Statement
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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