Future Work Self and Career Decision-Making Difficulties Among College Students: A Career Self-Management Model Perspective

Background: In the context of rapid labor market transformations and increasing youth unemployment, understanding the psychological mechanisms that facilitate effective career decision-making among undergraduates has become critical. This study addresses this need by examining how future work self (FWS)—an individual's clear and motivating vision of their career future—influences career decision-making difficulties (CDD) among Chinese university students. Grounded in the Career Self-Management Model, the research investigates job search goal clarity (JSC) as a mediating factor and career adaptability as a moderating variable. By exploring these relationships, the study aims to provide actionable insights for career counseling and education, particularly in high-uncertainty environments. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 1,149 university students across China. Validated instruments were used to measure FWS (Future Work Self Scale), career adaptability (Career Adapt-Abilities Scale, CAAS-SF), and CDD (Emotion and Personality-Related Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire, EPCD-SF). Data analysis included Pearson correlation to assess variable associations, hierarchical regression to test direct effects, and moderated mediation analysis (using PROCESS macro) to examine the interplay between JSC and career adaptability. Gender and age were controlled as covariates to ensure robustness. Results: Results revealed a significant negative relationship between FWS clarity and CDD ( B = -2.33, p < 0.001), with JSC partially mediating this association (indirect effect: -1.16, 95% CI [-1.5, -0.84]). Career adaptability moderated the JSC-CDD link ( B = -0.14, p < 0.001), demonstrating resilience among high-adaptability individuals under low JSC conditions. Notably, the moderating effect was non-significant for low-adaptability individuals, highlighting the critical role of adaptability in mitigating decision-making challenges. Conclusions: This study extends the Career Self-Management Model by delineating the mechanisms through which FWS reduces CDD—namely, by enhancing goal clarity and leveraging adaptability. The results emphasize the importance of fostering career adaptability in educational interventions, as it buffers against decision-making challenges when career goals are unclear. Practical applications include integrating FWS visualization exercises and adaptability training into university career programs to better prepare students for dynamic labor markets. Future research could explore longitudinal effects and cultural variations in these relationships.