The Impact of Perceived Parental Expectations on Career Adaptability: The Moderating Role of Parental Career Support

Abstract

Background: Career adaptability is regarded as the core index to measure the adequacy of youth’s “career readiness”, which refers to the psychological resources of individuals to cope with current or expected career tasks, career changes or career difficulties. Methods: In this study, 529 students (246 male students, 46.5%, 283 female students, 53.5%) in the first grade of a senior high school in Beijing were assessed by the perceived Parental Expectation Scale, the Parental Career Support Scale and the Career Adaptability Scale. Results: (1) Parents’ expectations, parents’ career support and career adaptability were significantly positively correlated, and the scores were all higher than the average. (2) Parents’ expectations and parents’ careers are significantly positive predictors of career adaptability; (3) The variable of parental career support plays a moderating role in the path of perceived parental expectations on career adaptability. Conclusions: In the middle school stage, parents’ provision of career resources has a good promotion effect on students’ career preparation and coping with career difficulties.