Creative self-efficacy, learning agility, and proactive career behaviors: The moderated mediation effect of positive AI attitudes among young adults

Abstract

In the context of rapidly changing work environments influenced by technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI), career development has shifted from traditional paths to dynamic, long-term personal growth. Learning agility, characterized as the ability to quickly adapt to changes, is considered an essential component in fostering proactive career behaviors. The study emphasizes the significance of positive perceptions of AI in reducing negative attitudes, such as employment insecurity, and promoting career behaviors. This research investigates the relationship between creative self-efficacy and proactive career behaviors among university students from a developing country, showing the mediating role of learning agility and the moderated mediation effect of positive AI attitudes. The study data was gathered from two points (T1 and T2) and included 303 university students. Hypothesis testing was conducted with the SPSS AMOS. The results indicate that positive AI attitudes have a moderated mediation effect on the relationship between creative self-efficacy and proactive career behaviors, with learning agility acting as a mediator. The findings of this study underline the importance of promoting creative self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward AI, as these have the potential to increase students’ learning agility, thereby encouraging proactive career behaviors in AI-integrated work settings.