The Effects of Pre-service Social Workers' Major Selection Motivation, Vocational Awareness, and Self-regulation Efficacy on Their Major Satisfaction and Major Loyalty

This study aimed to identify the effects of pre-service social workers' major selection motivation, vocational awareness of the social welfare field, and self-regulation efficacy for academic ability on their satisfaction and loyalty toward the social welfare major. To this end, a structured questionnaire was used to collect and analyze 242 research subjects. As for analysis methodologies, this study conducted descriptive statistical analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, reliability verification, and simple regression analysis for hypothesis verification. From the results of this study, it was shown that major selection motivation, vocational awareness (potential for growth, expertise, work environment), and self-regulation efficacy affected major satisfaction, and that major satisfaction affected major loyalty. In particular, the results showed that the sub-factors of vocational awareness, such as job environment, expertise, and potential for development, had a greater effect than major selection motivation and self-regulation efficacy. Based on these results, this study suggested implications for desirable indicators and directions when establishing a curriculum for social welfare departments.