Structural Relationships Among Variables Affecting Elementary School Students Career Preparation Behavior: Using a Multi-Group Structural Equation Approach

The purpose of this study was to analyze the structural relationships between parent support, career decision self-efficacy, career maturity, and career preparation behavior for elementary school students (5th and 6th grade) in Korea and to examine if there are gender differences. A total of 609 students of 7 elementary schools in Seoul, Korea was participated in this research. The collected data were analyzed using a structural equation model. The conclusions are as follows: First, parent support had significant positive effects on career preparation behavior but affected negatively career maturity. Second, career decision self-efficacy had a significant effect on career maturity and career preparation behavior for both boys and girls in elementary school. Finally, career decision self-efficacy had a more direct and indirect influence on career maturity and career preparation behavior than parent support. Keywords: Career preparation behavior, parent support, career decision self-efficacy, career maturity.