The psychometric properties of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-China Short Form: factorial invariance and its longitudinal relation to boredom proneness

Career adaptability is often measured using the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-China Form in China. Considering the simplicity of the scale and making it easier to use, this study validated the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-China Short Form (CAAS-CSF) for the Chinese context. Using the stratified cluster sampling method, 259 Chinese college students were selected as the research subjects for three consecutive semesters. First, gender and longitudinal factorial invariance of the CAAS-CSF were tested by multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis. Second, this study examined the concurrent validity of CAAS-CSF with regard to boredom proneness by cross-lagged panel model (CLPM). All fit indices indicated that the CAAS-CSF was factorial invariance across gender and longitudinal factorial invariance across time points. The relationship between career adaptability and boredom proneness generally suggested significant negative correlations both within and across time points. In addition, the CAAS-CSF showed good internal consistency indicators at all three time points, and a moderate to large rank-order stability coefficient was also found over 1 year in college students. The CAAS-CSF has very good psychometric properties and concurrent validity, suggesting that it is a valid measure to analyze career adaptability and apply it to the fields of education, career counseling and research.