A Study on the Relationship between Body Satisfaction and Career Decision Self-efficacy among High School Girls in Gyeongnam

The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between physical satisfaction and career decision-making self-efficacy of high school girls in Gyeongnam. To this end, data collection was conducted between September and October 2023 for 339 high school girls in Gyeongnam. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS statistical package, and the analyses performed comprised factor analysis and reliability analysis, analysis of variance and post-analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis.BR The results of this study are described in the following. Body satisfaction consisted of three dimensions: lack of body confidence, overreaction, and fear of obesity. Career decision-making self-efficacy consisted of four dimensions: goal selection, information collection, problem solving, and planning. Body satisfaction and career decision-making self-efficacy partially differed according to certain general characteristics; in particular, weight was shown to be associated with a significant difference in body satisfaction, while grades were shown to be associated with a significant difference in career decision-making self-efficacy. There was a correlation found between body satisfaction and career decision-making self-efficacy, and among the dimensions of career decision-making self-efficacy, planning was negatively correlated with all sub-variables of body satisfaction. Moreover, there was a causal relationship found between body satisfaction and career decision-making self-efficacy, excessive reaction had a negative causal relationship with career decision-making self-efficacy, and fear of obesity in body satisfaction had a positive causal relationship with career decision-making self-efficacy. The results of these studies can serve as basic data that can help elucidate the psychological characteristics of high school girls in adolescence and how they can inform career design and development.