This study examined the mediating roles of career maturity and career decision-making in the relationship between university students’ positive psychological capital and career preparation behavior. An online survey was administered to 248 university students, utilizing validated instruments to measure positive psychological capital, career preparation behavior, career maturity, and career decision-making. Correlation analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27.0 to explore the relationships among the variables. Furthermore, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the mediating effects of career maturity and career decision-making, and the Sobel test was employed to verify their statistical significance. The results of this study are as follows: First, positive psychological capital, career maturity, career decision-making, and career preparation behavior were significantly correlated. Second, career maturity partially mediates the relationship between positive psychological capital and career preparation behavior. Third, career decision-making partially mediates the relationship between positive psychological capital and career preparation behavior. These results suggest that career maturity and career decision-making are important mediating variables in the relationship between positive psychological capital and career preparation behavior. Therefore, in order to enhance university students' career preparation behavior, it is necessary not only to foster a positive and optimistic mindset about themselves but also to develop a mature awareness and attitude toward career decision-making.
Kim et al. (Tue,) studied this question.