Pre-service Teachers’ Career Values as Determinants of Career Choice Satisfaction: A Hierarchical Regression Analysis

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among pre-service teachers’ demographics, motivational factors, and career choice satisfaction in the Chinese context. A sample of 503 pre-service teachers at three education universities from East China was investigated. Informed by the Fit-Choice framework, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was implemented. Female pre-service teachers had higher levels of career choice satisfaction than their male counterparts, and pre-service teachers with an associate degree had higher levels of career choice satisfaction than those without such a degree. Motivational factors jointly explained 67% of variance in pre-service teachers’ career choice satisfaction, among which intrinsic career value was the strongest predictor. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.