An Exploratory Study of the Relationships Between Social Values, Work Values, General Self-Efficacy, and Career-Related Self-Efficacy Among Veterinary Students in Taiwan

Career development in veterinary education is shaped by multiple psychological and contextual factors, with career-related self-efficacy recognized as a primary driver of professional choice and persistence. This exploratory study investigated the relationships between the social values, work values, general self-efficacy, and career-related self-efficacy among 100 first-year and fifth-year students within the Department of Veterinary Medicine at National Taiwan University. Participants completed a structured questionnaire derived from validated scales. Descriptive analyses revealed moderately high levels across all constructs, and demonstrating robust internal consistency. While male students reported higher general self-efficacy, no significant sex differences were observed in career-related self-efficacy or other values. Notably, fifth-year students scored significantly lower than first-year students in social values, work values, and career-related self-efficacy. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations among the variables, with general self-efficacy exhibiting the most robust correlation with career-related self-efficacy, followed by work values and social values. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the unique contributions of social values, work values, and general self-efficacy to career-related self-efficacy, beyond the effects of demographic and experiential factors, collectively accounting for 60.7% of the variance. Within the work values domain, the "Reward" dimension received the lowest scores, aligning with realistic outcome expectations regarding the local labor market. These findings underscore the need to bolster students' general self-efficacy and align veterinary curricula with their work values to foster career-related self-efficacy. Further research is warranted to explore whether integrating these elements into veterinary training enhances students' preparedness for clinical practice.