Subjective Social Class and Work Volition: A Longitudinal Mediation Model of Career Decision Self‐Efficacy

ABSTRACT While existing studies have established a significant correlation between social class and work volition, the dynamics of this relationship remain unclear. To address this gap, this study examined how subjective social class influences career decision self‐efficacy (CDSE) and work volition over time. We surveyed 310 Chinese college students (155 women) across three time points, each separated by a 3‐month interval. The findings indicate that subjective social class at Time 1 and Time 2 positively influenced CDSE at Time 2 and Time 3, and CDSE at Time 1 and Time 2 positively predicted work volition at Time 2 and Time 3, respectively. CDSE longitudinally mediated the relationship between subjective social class and work volition. This study contributes to academic knowledge regarding how subjective social class affects the work volition and offers valuable insights for career guidance targeting enhanced work volition.