An Analysis of the Structural Relationships among Career Maturity (Participation and Decision-Making), Resilience, and Grit: Focusing on University Students and Graduates

This study explores the structural relationships among career maturity, resilience, and grit in Korean university students. In Korea’s exam-driven context, students often enter higher education without sufficient career exploration, leading to disengagement, maladjustment, or dropout. Career maturity, particularly its sub-factors of participation and decisiveness, is a key developmental task in early adulthood. Resilience and grit, identified as essential non-cognitive competencies for adapting to change, may strengthen this process. Unlike prior research that examined these variables independently, this study investigates whether career maturity influences grit through resilience. By focusing on the mediating role of resilience, the study highlights how psychological resources contribute to long-term persistence in career development. The findings are expected to provide theoretical insights into the interaction between cognitive and non-cognitive factors, as well as practical implications for designing career education programs that encourage students to set realistic goals, sustain motivation, and remain committed to their chosen paths despite challenges.