Students’ sense of coherence, study engagement and self-efficacy in relation to their study and employability satisfaction.

Abstract

This study reports on students’ sense of coherence, study engagement and self-efficacy in relation to their satisfaction with current studies and employability. Participants included a convenience sample of 127 employed adult learners enrolled for third year level open distance learning (ODL) undergraduate studies in industrial and organisational psychology. A quantitative survey approach was followed, collecting primary data. Data analysis consisted of correlational and standard multiple regression analyses. The results revealed students’ dedication to and perceived meaningfulness of undergraduate studies as significant predictors of their study and employability satisfaction. The participants’ self-efficacy did not relate significantly to their satisfaction with their current studies and employability. These findings contribute new knowledge that could be used to inform the design of learner support interventions aimed at increasing students’ motivational levels in the open distance learning context.