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Career Decision Self-Efficacy and Life Satisfaction in China: An Empirical Analysis

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Abstract

Focusing on the Chinese context, the present study took a pioneering step to examine the relationship between career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) and life satisfaction. Employing a three-dimensional CDSE model, which includes goal planning self-efficacy (GPSE), information gathering self-efficacy (IGSE) and problem solving self-efficacy (PSSE), we also explored the mediation mechanism underlying this relationship from the internal functioning process of CDSE (i.e., the GPSE–PSSE–life satisfaction and IGSE–PSSE–life satisfaction relationships). We then investigated the moderating role of person–environment (P–E) fit in the mediated CDSE–life satisfaction relationship. Data were collected from 786 university students. Results showed that all three dimensions of CDSE were positively related to life satisfaction. The internal process view was supported, for PSSE was found to mediate the relationships of life satisfaction with GPSE and IGSE, respectively. Additionally, P–E fit moderated the relationship between PSSE and life satisfaction. Further examinations also found a significant moderating role of P–E fit in the indirect relationships of life satisfaction with GPSE and IGSE via PSSE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, 4702, Australia

    Zhou Jiang

  2. Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    Zhou Jiang

  3. UWA Business School, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Xiaowen Hu

  4. College of Business, Law and Governance, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    Zhongmin Wang

  5. Department of Business Administration, Yanbian University, 977 Gongyuan Road, Yanji, 133002, Jilin, China

    Xuan Jiang

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  1. Zhou Jiang
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  2. Xiaowen Hu
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  3. Zhongmin Wang
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Correspondence to Xuan Jiang.

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Jiang, Z., Hu, X., Wang, Z. et al. Career Decision Self-Efficacy and Life Satisfaction in China: An Empirical Analysis. Soc Indic Res 132, 137–154 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-1201-5

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