Effects of Career Preparation Behaviors, Career Identity, and Career Barriers on International Students’ Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy

Objectives This study aimed to examine the levels of international students' career preparation behaviors, career identity, career barriers, and career decision-making self-efficacy, explore the correlations among these areas, and investigate the effects of career preparation behaviors, career identity, and career barriers on career decision-making self-efficacy. Methods A total of 148 international students enrolled at a university in Korea participated in the study. The levels of their career preparation behaviors, career identity, career barriers, and career decision-making self-efficacy were measured quantitatively and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlations among the overall areas and sub-factors. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the effects of career preparation behaviors, career identity, and career barriers on career decision-making self-efficacy. Results First, the levels of the four areas of the participating international students were in the order of career decision-making self-efficacy, career identity, career preparation behaviors, and career barriers. Second, the results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that career preparation behaviors, career identity, and career decision-making self-efficacy were positively correlated with one another, while career barriers were negatively correlated with all the other variables. Third, among career preparation behaviors, career identity, and career barriers, career identity and career preparation behaviors variables were identified as factors that significantly influenced career decision-making self-efficacy. Among their sub-factors, the cognition factor in career identity and the goal achievement activities factor in career preparaton behaviors were the most significant factors that influenced career decision-making self-efficacy. Conclusions The findings of this study contribute to advancing academic understanding of international students’ career preparation behaviors, career identity, career barriers, and career decision-making self-efficacy. Additionally, the results of the study provided implications on the importance of supporting policies and educational programs that help foster international students’ career identity and career preparation behaviors.