The Effects of High School Students' Perceived Parenting Attitudes and School Adaptation on Career Adaptability: Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem

Objectives This study was conducted to explore the structural relationships among high school students' perceived parenting attitudes, school adaptation, and career adaptability. It also examined the direct and indirect effects on career adaptability, focusing on the mediating effect of self-esteem. Methods For this purpose, the structural equation model was applied to Wave 5 of the Korean Children & Youth Panel Survey 2018 (KCYPS 2018) data set (11th grade, N=2,204), conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute. Results The main findings are as follows. First, high school students' perceived parenting attitudes had a significant direct effect on career adaptability, with a partial mediation effect that was positively reinforced by self-esteem. Second, school adaptation similarly had a significant direct and indirect effect on career adaptability, mediated by self-esteem. Third, the total effect of school adaptation on career adaptability was relatively larger as compared to that of high school students' perceived parenting attitudes on career adaptability. Conclusions Based on the main findings of this study, implications and suggestions to improve the career adaptability of high school students are presented.