Social Cognitive Factors as Mediators Between Gender Role Personality and Career Exploration

Abstract

The present study identified the relationships between gender role personality and career exploration in female college students, as well as the mediating roles of career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) and self-regulation in the relationships. We used data from 210 Korean female college students. Structural equation modeling revealed the following: Female college students’ femininity was directly related with their career exploration, whereas their masculinity was not. Moreover, while female college students’ CDSE alone mediated the relationship between masculinity and career exploration, female college students’ CDSE and self-regulation mediated the relationship between femininity and career exploration. Specifically, in addition to mediating the relationship between femininity and career exploration directly, female college students’ self-regulation exerted a mediating effect on the relationship between femininity and career exploration through CDSE. Finally, we suggested that the effectiveness of career exploration programs for female students could be improved by considering gender role personality, CDSE, and self-regulation.