Employability Affecting Employment Performance of Graduates Major in Physical Education: Chain-Mediating Role of Career Self-Efficacy and Job Search Behavior

The research aimed to examine the impact of employability on employment performance and explore the chain-mediated effects of career self-efficacy and job search behavior. Using a stratified proportional sampling method, data were collected from 629 graduates majoring in physical education in Guizhou Province, China. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that employability was a significant predictor of employment performance (β = .647, C.R. = 8.993, p < .001). Career self-efficacy did not play a mediating role (β = .070, p = .085), while job search behavior demonstrated a significant mediating effect (β = .141, p < .001). Furthermore, a significant chain-mediated effect of career self-efficacy and job search behavior was observed between employability and employment performance (β = .084, p < .01). The study expanded the application scope of the Social Cognitive Model of Career Self-Management (CSM), confirming the direct positive impact of employability on the employment performance of university graduates majoring in physical education. Additionally, the research identified the mediating role of job search behavior and the chain-mediated effect of career self-efficacy and job search behavior, thereby enhancing our comprehension of the individual’s career decision-making process.