Influencing factors of employment decisions among physical education majors: The mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of gender.

BACKGROUND

Physical education majors often encounter distinct challenges in making employment-related decisions, yet limited empirical research has explored the psychological factors influencing these decisions.

METHODS

A total of 908 physical education majors from universities across China were surveyed using a random sampling method. Standardized and validated instruments were employed to measure active coping strategies, peer support, maladaptive perfectionism, psychological resilience, and employment decisions. A moderated mediation model was constructed and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

RESULTS

Psychological resilience partially mediated the associations between active coping strategies, peer support, maladaptive perfectionism, and employment decisions. Additionally, gender significantly moderated the direct effects of both psychological resilience and peer support on employment decisions. Specifically, peer support was more strongly associated with employment decisions among female students, whereas the effect of psychological resilience was more pronounced among male students.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the critical role of psychological resilience in shaping employment decisions among physical education majors and demonstrate the gender-specific dynamics of support mechanisms. The study provides theoretical implications for understanding employment decisions processes and offers practical guidance for tailoring career counseling and psychological interventions in this student population.