Article Gold Open Access 2025

Chain-mediated effects of career self-efficacy and career planning between social support and career anxiety in college soccer players

Frontiers in Psychology
Journal · Vol. 16 · Art. 1685011
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the Career Anxiety of Chinese university high-level soccer players, to construct a chain mediation model, and to provide intervention suggestions to alleviate the Career Anxiety of this group. The study used questionnaires and collected 797 valid questionnaires (404 male; 393 female), and used AMOS 21.0 and SPSS 19.0 software for data processing and model testing through hierarchical regression and structural equation modeling. The results showed that: social support had a direct negative effect on Career Anxiety; career choice self-efficacy and career planning mediated between social support and Career Anxiety, respectively; and career choice self-efficacy and career planning together constituted a significant chain mediation effect. The conclusion suggests that improving the social support level, enhancing their career choice self-efficacy and perfecting their career planning ability are the key ways to effectively intervene in Career Anxiety among college high-level soccer players. © © 2025 Feng, Zhang, Wang, Zhang and Che.

Keywords

Author Keywords

social support career planning career choice self-efficacy career anxiety chain mediation university-level high-performance soccer players

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Common Course Teaching Department, Shandong University of Art and Design, Jinan, Shandong, China
Graduate School, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, Shandong, China
Department of Modern Handicrafts, Shandong University of Art and Design, Jinan, Shandong, China
Department of Physical Education, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, China
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 Bandura, Albert, Self-efficacy beliefs as shapers of children's aspirations and career trajectories, Child Development, 72, 1, pp. 187-206, (2001)
2 Adv Psychol, (2020)
3 Adv Soc Sci, (2023)
4 A Study of the Current Status of Career Planning for High Level Table Tennis Players in Ordinary Universities in Henan Province, (2021)
5 Confectioner, Kaizeen, Help-seeking behaviours related to mental health symptoms in professional football, BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, 7, 2, (2021)
6 Cui, Jun, The effect of entrepreneurial education on career choice intentions of college students: a social cognitive career theory approach, Education and Training, 66, 8, pp. 1031-1054, (2024)
7 Deng, Yuhua, To overcome test anxiety in on-line assessment: unpacking the mediator roles of techno competencies, teacher support, self-efficacy, and autonomy, BMC Psychology, 13, 1, (2025)
8 CNS Spectr, (2023)
9 Dyrbye, Liselotte N., Systematic review of depression, anxiety, and other indicators of psychological distress among U.S. and Canadian medical students, Academic Medicine, 81, 4, pp. 354-373, (2006)
10 Ebberwein, Christopher A., Voices in transition: Lessons on career adaptability, Career Development Quarterly, 52, 4, pp. 292-308, (2004)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
0
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 10
Document Identifiers