The Structural Relationships of College students' Perceived Parental Autonomy Support and Personality with Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy, Stability of Career Goals, and Career Preparation Behaviors

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the structural relationships of college students’ perceived parental autonomy support and personality with career decision-making self-efficacy, stability of career goals, and career preparation behaviors from the perspective of the social cognitive career theory. Methods Parental autonomy support, extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, career decision-making selfefficacy, stability of career goals, and career preparation behaviors were measured in 402 college students. and structural equation model tests were conducted using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 24.0. Results First, career decision self-efficacy and career goal stability had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between college students' perceived parental autonomy support and career preparation behaviors. Second, career decision self-efficacy and career goal stability had a full mediating effect on the relationship between extraversion and career preparation behaviors. Third, the relationship between openness and career preparation behaviors had a full mediation effect on career decision self-efficacy and career goal stability, and openness had a direct effect on career goal stability. Fourth, the relationship between conscientiousness and career preparation behaviors showed a partial mediation effect between career decision self-efficacy and career goal stability, and conscientiousness had a direct effect on career goal stability. Conclusions The structural relationships between parental autonomy support and personality on career preparation behaviors were identified from the perspective of social cognitive career theory. Based on these findings, implications for the study and suggestions for further research are discussed.