Career Adaptability, Perceptions of Professional Development and Employability: A Mediation Analysis

Adaptabilidade de Carreira, Percepções de Desenvolvimento Profissional e Empregabilidade: uma análise mediacional

Adaptabilidad de carrera, percepciones de desarrollo profesional y empleabilidad: un análisis mediacional

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test the mediating role that Perception of Professional Development has in the relationship between Career Adaptability and Perception of/Expectation of Employability among undergraduate students. A total of 1.105 students (57% of women) participated in the investigation, all from different undergraduate courses and institutions. The instruments used had evidence of validity, and data were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The results supported the research hypothesis and corroborate previous empirical studies. The model showed good fit for the data as to the hypothesized model (X²/df=0.65; CFI=0.94; TLI=0.94; RMSEA=0.05; indirect effect=0.31). The confirmation of the mediating relationship contributes to the understanding of the processes related to Perception of/Expectation of Employability among undergraduate students. Impacts on the career planning of undergraduate students and subsidies for Higher Education management are some of the practical implications of this study.

Keywords:
professional development; career adaptability; higher education; mediation analysis