The mediating effect of proactive personality on the relationship between achievement motivation and career adaptability in nursing undergraduates

Abstract

Objective To explore the mediating effect of proactive personality of nursing undergraduates between achievement motivation (pursuing success and avoiding failure) and career adaptability, so as to provide a direction for the adjustment of career adaptability of nursing undergraduates. Methods A total of 240 nursing undergraduates from Grade 2016 and 2017 of China Medical University were recruited as the research subjects by convenience sampling method. University Students' Career Adaptability Questionnaire, Achievement Motivation Scale and Active Personality Questionnaire were applied in the investigation. Results A total of 165 out of 240 valid questionnaires were collected. The score of pursuit of success was (36.24±9.02) , Active Personality Questionnaire (3.50±0.70) , and University Students' Career Adaptability Questionnaire (3.66±0.51) . Career adaptability was positively correlated with proactive personality (r=0.518, P=0.001) and avoidance of failure (r=0.194, P=0.013) , and negatively correlated with pursuit of success (r=-0.157, P=0.044) . Proactive personality was positively correlated with avoidance of failure (r=0.260, P=0.01) . Fitting values are obtained by constructing and modifying models: NFI=0.915, GFI=0.904, CFI=0.964, AGFI=O.858, RMESA=0.064. The direct effect of avoiding failure on career adaptability was 0.07, the indirect effect through active personality was 0.24, and the intermediary effect accounted for 77.4% of the total effect. Conclusions Active personality plays a mediating role in avoiding failure motivation and career adaptability, correctly guiding the development direction of achievement motivation, improving the level of avoiding failure and proactive personality, which is conducive to the positive development of career adaptability of nursing undergraduates. Key words: Students, nursing; Achievement motivation; Career adaptability; Proactive personality