The Impact of Parental Autonomy Support on Career 
Decision-Making Difficulties among College Students: 
The Mediating Role of Career Adaptability

Jie Huang

doi:10.70711/wef.v2i5.5048

The Impact of Parental Autonomy Support on Career Decision-Making Difficulties among College Students: The Mediating Role of Career Adaptability

Jie Huang

Abstract

In todays fiercely competitive job market, many fresh graduates grapple with career-related decisions. Family dynamics, particularly parental support, can play a pivotal role in mitigating these challenges. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between
parental support for autonomy and college students career decision challenges, as well as the mediating role of career adaptability in this
relationship. A total of 647 students from five universities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area participated in our study
through comprehensive questionnaires. The scales measured parental autonomy support, career decision difficulties, and career adaptability. Data analysis employed correlation, regression, and Bootstrap techniques. Our results revealed that parental autonomy support was
negatively related to career decision difficulties but positively associated with career adaptability. Notably, career adaptability demonstrated a strong negative correlation with decision-making difficulties. Mediation analysis indicated that career adaptability significantly mediated the relationship between parental support and decision challenges (indirect effect = -0.18, 95% CI [-0.22, -0.11]). These findings provide valuable insights for psychologists, emphasizing the importance of family encouragement and personal flexibility in career decisionmaking. They offer new perspectives on college career guidance and family education. Future research could explore specific strategies to
enhance parental support that fosters students career adaptability, ultimately helping young people better navigate the obstacles in their
career development.

Keywords

Parental autonomy support; Career decision-making difficulties; Career adaptability; Mediating effect; College students

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.70711/wef.v2i5.5048

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