Young Women’s Transition to the Workforce: The Influence of Career-Decidedness on Happiness and the Mediating Role of SelfEsteem

The employment of women in developing nations is a significant concern for policymakers, and while several studies address strategies for improving women’s workforce involvement, research on the influence of career decidedness on the happiness of young women remains limited. This study aims to determine the mediating role of general self-esteem in the effect of career decisiveness on the overall subjective happiness levels of young women aged 19 to 26. Data collected from 320 young women currently pursuing higher education in the Marmara Region of Turkey through the purposive sampling method and via surveys were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). Confirmatory factor analysis and SEM were conducted using SPSS AMOS. The results indicate that as the levels of career decidedness among young women increase, their overall happiness levels also increase, and general selfesteem positively supports this relationship. In other words, the subjective happiness levels of young women tend to increase as they become more confident and decisive about their career paths. Based on the results, recommendations for policymakers, organisations, and individuals are provided to increase the levels of career decidedness, general self-esteem, and overall happiness levels of young women. In addition, this study offers new insights for future research regarding the subjective happiness levels of young women from a career perspective.