Effects of Career Identity, Social Support, and Gender Stereotypes on Career Preparation Behavior among Male Nursing Students

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing career preparation behavior among male nursing students in South Korea. The participants included 129 male nursing students located in B city and K province. Data were collected using structured questionnaire covering demographics, career identity, social support, gender stereotypes, and career preparation behavior. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 program, including descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlations coefficients, and hierarchical multiple linear regression. The results revealed that career identity(β=.399, p<.001) and gender stereotypes(β=–.212, p=.016) were significant predictors, accounting for 30.5% of the total variance in career preparation behavior. These findings suggest that strengthening career identity is a critical component in enhancing career preparation. Future interventions should provide tailored career information, structured mentoring and counseling programs, and strategic approaches to mitigate gender stereotypes within clinical and educational environments.