Structural Equation Modeling in Regard to Planned Happenstance Skills, Basic Psychological Needs, Occupational Engagement and Career Decision Self-efficacy amongst University Students

Abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study is to select variables that affect university students' career decision-making self-efficacy and to confirm the structural relationship among them. Methods A related survey was conducted on 302 university students located in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The collected data were subjected to correlation analysis, normality verification, structural model analysis, path analysis, and bootstrapping using SPSS21 and AMOS21 programs. Results First, there was a significant positive correlation between the variables of college students' Planned Happenstance Skills, Basic Psychological Needs, Occupational Engagement, and Career Decision Self-efficacy. Second, it was found that Basic Psychological Needs and Occupational Engagement completely mediated the relationship between college students' Planned Happenstance Skills and Career Decision Self-efficacy. Conclusions It was confirmed that it was possible to satisfy Basic Psychological Needs and increase Occupational Engagement through the reinforcement of Planned Happenstance Skills for university students in the period of career decision, which has a positive effect on self-efficacy in career decision-making.