Career adaptability, sense of coherence and career self-efficacy of students at a residential university

Abstract

The aim of the dissertation was to examine the relationship between career adaptability, sense of coherence (SOC) and career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE), and whether there were any demographic differences, namely age, gender and race, between the constructs. The Career Adapt-ability Scale South Africa (CAAS-South Africa), Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ-13), Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form (CDSE-SF) and a demographical questionnaire were applied in a convenience sample comprising 317 undergraduate students at a residential university in South Africa. The results indicated a moderate positive relationship between career adaptability, and SOC, and a strong positive relationship between career adaptability and CDMSE. CDMSE predicted career adaptability with a variance of 43%. SOC did not emerge as a significant predictor of career adaptability. No gender differences were found. This study makes a valuable contribution to the existing literature and practice, showing that CDMSE and SOC can have an impact on the career adaptability of undergraduate students.