Guidance of Hope: The Link of Social Support Influences the Career Educational Response of Senior High School Students

Abstract

Background: This research aims to investigate the relationships between social support, hope, career exploration, career adaptability, and reactions to career education among Chinese high school students. The study sample consists of 418 Chinese high school students. Various instruments were utilized to assess the variables, including the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale, the Hope Scale, the High School Students' Career Exploration Scale, the Career Adapt-Ability Scale-Short Form, and the Reactions to Career Education Scale. Methods: The study utilized a sample of 418 Chinese high school students to examine the relationships between social support, hope, career exploration, career adaptability, and reactions to career education. The variables were assessed using the instruments. Smart-PLS and SPSS analyses were employed to determine the correlations among the variables. Results: The analysis revealed a positive correlation between social support, hope, career exploration, career adaptability, and reactions to career education among Chinese high school students. Additionally, evidence suggests that hope, career exploration, and career adaptability act as mediators, indicating the presence of a multi-mediation model. Conclusions: The findings of this research contribute to the understanding of the relationships between social support, hope, career exploration, career adaptability, and reactions to career education among Chinese high school students. These findings support the development of career education strategies for Chinese senior high schools and provide a basis for assessing the effectiveness of such programs.