Parental Career-Related Behavior Transitions and Career Adaptability among Chinese Secondary Vocational Students: School Interpersonal Support as a Mediator

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Parental Career-Related Behavior Transitions and Career Adaptability among Chinese Secondary Vocational Students: School Interpersonal Support as a Mediator
Language: English
Authors: Yiyuan Wen (ORCID 0009-0009-8988-9259), Caimei Wang (ORCID 0009-0001-0679-5305), Zhaoyang Xie (ORCID 0000-0003-3076-5648), Fangfang Wen (ORCID 0009-0004-2355-0627), Bin Zuo (ORCID 0000-0002-9633-7067)
Source: School Psychology International. 2026 47(3):326-353.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 28
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
High Schools
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Secondary School Students, Career and Technical Education, High Schools, Vocational Adjustment, Career Choice, Parent Child Relationship, Career Development, Social Support Groups, Interference (Learning), Longitudinal Studies, Adolescents, Student Personnel Services, Mediation Theory
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1177/01430343261446897
ISSN: 0143-0343
1461-7374
Abstract: Parental career-related behaviors and school interpersonal support (i.e., teacher and peer support) play crucial roles in shaping adolescents' career development. However, the dynamic interplay between these factors and career adaptability among secondary vocational students remains underexplored, particularly among transitional youth populations and collectivist cultural contexts. Integrating career construction theory and spillover theory, this study constructs a refined theoretical framework to address this gap. We conducted a longitudinal investigation over 1 year on the relations among parental career-related behaviors, school interpersonal support, and career adaptability in a sample of 1,014 Chinese secondary vocational students (Mage = 16.70, SD = 0.87; 50.8% female). Latent profile analysis identified three parental behavior profiles: (a) support group, (b) interference-lack of engagement group, and (c) support-interference group. Latent transition analysis further revealed four transition patterns: (a) stable high-quality career nurturing (SH), (b) stable low or lower quality career nurturing (SL), (c) career nurturing improvement (CI), and (d) career nurturing decline (CD). Mediation analyses demonstrated that school interpersonal support--especially from teachers and peers--significantly mediated the association between transition patterns of parental career-related behaviors and subsequent career adaptability. Results indicate that consistent or intermittent negative parental behaviors undermine students' career adaptability, highlighting the importance of supportive school environments in fostering adaptability within collectivist settings.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507529
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Parental career-related behaviors and school interpersonal support (i.e., teacher and peer support) play crucial roles in shaping adolescents' career development. However, the dynamic interplay between these factors and career adaptability among secondary vocational students remains underexplored, particularly among transitional youth populations and collectivist cultural contexts. Integrating career construction theory and spillover theory, this study constructs a refined theoretical framework to address this gap. We conducted a longitudinal investigation over 1 year on the relations among parental career-related behaviors, school interpersonal support, and career adaptability in a sample of 1,014 Chinese secondary vocational students (Mage = 16.70, SD = 0.87; 50.8% female). Latent profile analysis identified three parental behavior profiles: (a) support group, (b) interference-lack of engagement group, and (c) support-interference group. Latent transition analysis further revealed four transition patterns: (a) stable high-quality career nurturing (SH), (b) stable low or lower quality career nurturing (SL), (c) career nurturing improvement (CI), and (d) career nurturing decline (CD). Mediation analyses demonstrated that school interpersonal support--especially from teachers and peers--significantly mediated the association between transition patterns of parental career-related behaviors and subsequent career adaptability. Results indicate that consistent or intermittent negative parental behaviors undermine students' career adaptability, highlighting the importance of supportive school environments in fostering adaptability within collectivist settings.
ISSN:0143-0343
1461-7374
DOI:10.1177/01430343261446897