The mediating effect of psychological well-being on self-efficacy and career development of physical education major students

Abstract We investigated the association between self-efficacy and career exploration and career adaptability of students majoring in physical education via psychological well-being because these students undergo a critical phase during their career exploration because of an inclination towards reev...

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Main Authors: Yikeranmu Yiming, Rong Ma, Yalikun Saiyidu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03168-z
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author Yikeranmu Yiming
Rong Ma
Yalikun Saiyidu
author_facet Yikeranmu Yiming
Rong Ma
Yalikun Saiyidu
author_sort Yikeranmu Yiming
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We investigated the association between self-efficacy and career exploration and career adaptability of students majoring in physical education via psychological well-being because these students undergo a critical phase during their career exploration because of an inclination towards reevaluating reality, realising their thoughts, and developing early professional goals. We used a primary data set collected from universities in two provinces of China. The participants were students with a major in physical education (n = 1381; age = 18-22 years). Students participated in the study by signing an informed consent. Hayes PROCESS model was used to apply multiple mediation model. The results suggest that higher self-efficacy is associated with better career exploration and career adaptability. In addition, four components of psychological well-being played a significant mediating role, and those are self-acceptance, positive relationship with others, personal growth, and purpose in life. The findings suggest that self-efficacy and psychological well-being are predominantly advantageous for the career development of Chinese students enrolled in the field of physical education.
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spelling doaj-art-cd01371fd757409bae6d423ab292a6d62025-08-20T04:03:07ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-08-0113111610.1186/s40359-025-03168-zThe mediating effect of psychological well-being on self-efficacy and career development of physical education major studentsYikeranmu Yiming0Rong Ma1Yalikun Saiyidu2Institute of Physical Education, Xinjiang Normal UniversityInstitute of Physical Education, Xinjiang Normal UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Xinjiang Agricultural UniversityAbstract We investigated the association between self-efficacy and career exploration and career adaptability of students majoring in physical education via psychological well-being because these students undergo a critical phase during their career exploration because of an inclination towards reevaluating reality, realising their thoughts, and developing early professional goals. We used a primary data set collected from universities in two provinces of China. The participants were students with a major in physical education (n = 1381; age = 18-22 years). Students participated in the study by signing an informed consent. Hayes PROCESS model was used to apply multiple mediation model. The results suggest that higher self-efficacy is associated with better career exploration and career adaptability. In addition, four components of psychological well-being played a significant mediating role, and those are self-acceptance, positive relationship with others, personal growth, and purpose in life. The findings suggest that self-efficacy and psychological well-being are predominantly advantageous for the career development of Chinese students enrolled in the field of physical education.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03168-zSelf-efficacyCareer explorationCareer adaptabilityPsychological well-beingMediation
spellingShingle Yikeranmu Yiming
Rong Ma
Yalikun Saiyidu
The mediating effect of psychological well-being on self-efficacy and career development of physical education major students
BMC Psychology
Self-efficacy
Career exploration
Career adaptability
Psychological well-being
Mediation
title The mediating effect of psychological well-being on self-efficacy and career development of physical education major students
title_full The mediating effect of psychological well-being on self-efficacy and career development of physical education major students
title_fullStr The mediating effect of psychological well-being on self-efficacy and career development of physical education major students
title_full_unstemmed The mediating effect of psychological well-being on self-efficacy and career development of physical education major students
title_short The mediating effect of psychological well-being on self-efficacy and career development of physical education major students
title_sort mediating effect of psychological well being on self efficacy and career development of physical education major students
topic Self-efficacy
Career exploration
Career adaptability
Psychological well-being
Mediation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03168-z
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