Career Sustainability in High‐Risk Performance Populations: The Mediating Role of Grit Between Growth Mindset and Career Decision Self‐Efficacy

ABSTRACT In precarious and high‐stakes vocational environments, fostering psychological sustainability is a critical challenge for employment counseling. This study investigates a modifiable psychological pathway—the mediating role of grit between growth mindset and career decision self‐efficacy (CDSE)—within a high‐risk performance population (K‐POP trainees) characterized by prolonged uncertainty and elevated dropout risk. Drawing on social cognitive career theory, we conceptualized growth mindset as a cognitive belief target and grit as a psychological resource associated with the translation of growth‐oriented beliefs into sustained effort under pressure. Using structural equation modeling with bias‐corrected bootstrapping ($N = 265$), the results indicate that growth mindset significantly predicts CDSE both directly and through the partial mediation of grit. These findings provide empirical support for the proposed “belief‐to‐action” pathway essential for maintaining career self‐regulation in performance‐driven contexts. From a counseling perspective, this study provides empirical evidence for the development of mindset‐based interventions and grit‐enhancement programs to bolster the career sustainability of vulnerable aspirants. By providing empirical evidence for this pathway, the research offers actionable insights for employment counselors to support individuals in high‐pressure career trajectories, shifting the focus from mere talent selection to the psychological empowerment of long‐term professional self‐efficacy.