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The Effects of Career-specific Parental Behaviors on College Students’ Employability: A Moderated Mediation Model

Guide to Education Innovation / 2026,6(1): 42-56 / 2026-02-05 89 57

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• Authors: Tianbei Wang¹* Wei Gong²
• Information:

  1. Students’ Affairs Office, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou;
  2. Shaoguan Secondary Vocational Technical School, Shaoguan

• Keywords:
  Career-specific parental behaviors; Career exploration; Adolescent-parent career congruence; Employability
• Abstract: Objective: This study examined the mechanism of career-specific parental behaviors on college students’ employability based on theories of career development stages, ecosystem theory, and the social cognitive theory of career exploration. Methods: The Employability Scale, the Career-specific Parental Behaviors Scale, the Adolescent-Parent Career Congruence Scale, and the Career Exploration Scale were used to study 864 college students. Results: The results showed that: (1) Career-specific parental behaviors significantly and positively predicted college students’ job search behaviours and job search self-efficacy; (2) Career exploration mediated the effects of career-specific parental behaviors on college students’ employability; (3) The variable of adolescent-parent career congruence moderated the effects of career exploration on college students’ employability, as well as the direct path effects. Conclusion: Career-specific parental behaviors affect college students’ employability through career exploration, and this effect is moderated by adolescent-parent career congruence.
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.35534/gei.0601005 (registering DOI)
• Cite: Wang, T. B. & Gong, W. (2026). The Effects of Career-specific Parental Behaviors on College Students’ Employability: A Moderated Mediation Model. Guide to Education Innovation, 6(1), 42-56.