The Structural Relationship Between Self-Esteem, Academic Helplessness, Career Adaptability, and Academic Engagement in General High School Students

The purpose of this study was to analyze the structural relationships between self-esteem, academic helplessness, career adaptability, and academic engagement among general high school students, based on the career adaptability model. It further aimed to provide foundational data and practical implications for planning learning guidance and career education strategies to help high school students achieve their career goals. For this, data from 1,808 students enrolled in general high schools were used from the fifth wave of the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2018 (KCYPS 2018). The key results verified through structural equation modeling were as follows. First, self-esteem had a positive effect on career adaptability and academic engagement. Second, academic helplessness had a negative effect on career adaptability and academic engagement. Third, career adaptability had a positive effect on academic engagement. Finally, the mediating effect of career adaptability in the relationship between self-esteem, academic helplessness, and academic engagement was found to be significant. Based on these research findings, implications for career education and learning guidance aimed at enhancing academic engagement and career adaptability among general high school students were presented.