Mediating Role of Career Adaptability in Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Career Decision Making Difficulties

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of career adaptability in relationship between emotional intelligence and career decision making difficulties among 9th grade students.

This was a correlational research that using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of 9th grade students of Qazvin province in the academic year 2016-17. The sample consisted of 433 students (206 boys and 227 girls) selected by multi-stage random cluster sampling. Measures included Career Adaptability Scale, Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory, and Decision Making Difficulties Questionnaire. The data were calculated using Pearson correlation coefficients (using SPSS-24), and structural equation modeling. The statistical significance of indirect effects also was calculated by bootstrapping method (using AMOS24).

The results of this study showed that most of the overall -0.67 for the emotional intelligence on decision-making difficulties was indirectly due to the mediation of career adaptability (β = -0.41, p <0.001), while a part of it was more directly (β = -0.26, p <0.001). The conceptual model also showed a significant fit with the data (SRMR = 0.03; RMSEA = 0.06). The results of the comparison of total fit and path coefficients among girls and boys also showed that the research model is same for both groups (p <0.11).

In line with the career adaption model, the results of this study showed that a major part of the effects of social and emotional meta-capacities on the reduction of the incompatibility of career adaptive responses can be explained by the mobilization of psychosocial resources in the management of career related tasks, transitions and crises.