The Moderating Effect of Positive Psychological Capital on the Relationship Between Career Decision Self-Efficacy and Career Anxiety in Taekwondo Major College Students

Objectives This study analyzed the moderating effect of positive psychological capital on the relationship between career decision self-efficacy and career anxiety among college students majoring in Taekwondo. Methods A sample of 240 Taekwondo major students from two-year and four-year colleges nationwide was surveyed using SPSS (ver 28.0), AMOS (ver 21.0), and the PROCESS macro (ver 4.2) to perform frequency analysis, descriptive statistic analysis, validity and reliability tests, correlation analysis, and moderation effects testing. Results The study found that positive psychological capital (efficacy, optimism, hope, resilience) has a moderating effect on the relationship between career decision self-efficacy (self-appraisal, information gathering, goal setting, career planning, and problem-solving) and career anxiety, except for the influence of hope in the relationships between problem-solving, information gathering, and career anxiety. Conclusions The findings suggest that the level of positive psychological capital among Taekwondo majoring college students can significantly influence the impact of career decision self-efficacy on career anxiety. Based on these results, the study proposes the need to understand the appropriate levels of positive psychological capital and develop maintenance and management strategies tailored to the characteristics of Taekwondo major students.