Career doubt and career decision???making difficulties among Chinese college students: A moderated mediation model

The recent deceleration in global economic growth, inadequate domestic demand, and diminished public expectations for economic prospects have exacerbated the career decision???making difficulties of Chinese college students. To assist them in making better career decisions, we examined the mechanisms by which career doubt affects career decision???making difficulties, with career exploration as a mediator and career???related parental support as a moderator. The results of a survey of 1,737 college students revealed significant associations among career doubt, career exploration, and career???related parental support. Career exploration mediated the relationship between career doubt and career decision???making difficulties, and the negative connection of career doubt to career exploration was buffered by career???related parental support. Our findings deepen understanding of the process from career doubt to career decision???making difficulties.

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Publication Details

Journal
Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal
Published
2026-01-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.15268
Primary Topic
Career Development and Diversity
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Career doubt and career decision???making difficulties among Chinese college students: A moderated mediation model

K. Ratnavelu, Xia Sheng, Shuyu Gao, Xinpei Bao
Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal
Career Development and Diversity
article

Career doubt and career decision???making difficulties among Chinese college students: A moderated mediation model

K. Ratnavelu, Xia Sheng, Shuyu Gao, Xinpei Bao
article en

Abstract

The recent deceleration in global economic growth, inadequate domestic demand, and diminished public expectations for economic prospects have exacerbated the career decision???making difficulties of Chinese college students. To assist them in making better career decisions, we examined the mechanisms by which career doubt affects career decision???making difficulties, with career exploration as a mediator and career???related parental support as a moderator. The results of a survey of 1,737 college students revealed significant associations among career doubt, career exploration, and career???related parental support. Career exploration mediated the relationship between career doubt and career decision???making difficulties, and the negative connection of career doubt to career exploration was buffered by career???related parental support. Our findings deepen understanding of the process from career doubt to career decision???making difficulties.

Social Behavior and Personality An International JournalVol. 54(1)
Lishui University (CN), Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Computer Science (CZ), UCSI University (MY)
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 71%
Career Development and Diversity
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Career doubt and career decision???making difficulties among Chinese college students: A moderated mediation model — K. Ratnavelu, Xia Sheng, et al. · Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS