Future time perspective and its association with employment anxiety among college students: a moderated mediation model based on career adaptability and career decision-making self-efficacy.

BACKGROUND

Employment anxiety among college students has become increasingly prominent under intensified employment pressure. This study examined the associations among future time perspective, career adaptability, employment anxiety, and career decision-making self-efficacy, drawing on Social Cognitive Career Theory and Career Construction Theory.

METHODS

A survey was conducted with 1,100 Chinese college students using standardized measures. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the associations among future time perspective, career adaptability, employment anxiety, and career decision-making self-efficacy.

RESULTS

Future time perspective was negatively associated with employment anxiety and positively associated with career adaptability. Career adaptability was negatively associated with employment anxiety and was involved in the association between future time perspective and employment anxiety. Career decision-making self-efficacy moderated the associations of future time perspective and career adaptability with employment anxiety, with a numerically larger interaction coefficient observed for the association between career adaptability and employment anxiety. The negative indirect association between future time perspective and employment anxiety through career adaptability was more pronounced at higher levels of career decision-making self-efficacy. Multi-group analysis showed that the negative association between career adaptability and employment anxiety was more pronounced among female students.

CONCLUSION

The findings clarify the associations among future time perspective, career adaptability, career decision-making self-efficacy, and employment anxiety among Chinese college students. These results may provide evidence for university career counseling and psychological support practices.