A Phenomenological Study of Career Anxiety Among College Students

Approaching Temporal Dynamics in the Dimension-Level Associations Between Career Adaptability/Ambivalence and Internalizing Symptoms Among Chinese Adolescents Throughout Their High Middle School Years

Despite the well-established associations between adolescents' internalizing symptoms and career development, it still remains unclear whether adolescents' internalizing symptoms are precursors or consequences of their career adaptability/ambivalence. Subtler nuance inherent within such association also await to be revealed, because internalizing symptoms and career development have been primarily treated as broad constructs, despite the multifaceted nature of both. To narrow such gaps, this study examined the potentially dynamic associations among career adaptability, career ambivalence, and internalizing symptoms using three-wave longitudinal data. The study collected data from 3196 Chinese adolescents (52.72% girls, mean age = 15.56 years, SD = 0.58) at Wave 1, with 2820 (attrition rate = 11.76%) participating in Wave 2 and 2568 (attrition rate = 8.93%) in Wave 3. The measurement invariance suggested that there were no significant differences across both waves and genders. This study approached associations at both broader construct levels and subtler dimension levels. Results of cross-lagged path models at broader construct levels demonstrated a unidirectional association between internalizing symptoms and career adaptability. Results of models at subtler dimension levels indicated a series of transactional links over time between career adaptability dimensions/ambivalence and depressive symptoms in particular. Career adaptability dimensions and career ambivalence predicted later anxiety symptoms rather than the reverse. Group model comparisons showed no difference across waves and genders. These findings shed light on the dynamic nature of the associations during adolescence between career adaptability/ambivalence and internalizing symptoms, particularly at subtler dimensional levels, which should be considered in relevant clinical and educational practices.

The impact of innovative behaviors on academic misconduct among graduate students: a mediated moderation model

Introduction

Academic misconduct among graduate students poses a significant challenge in graduate education. This study aims to explore the impact of innovative behavior on graduate student academic misconduct and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

A survey was conducted on 677 graduate students currently enrolled in Beijing universities to assess their innovative behavior, academic misconduct, academic anxiety, employment confidence, educational levels, among other factors. The study analyzed the mediating roles of academic anxiety, employment confidence, and educational levels in the relationship between innovative behavior and graduate student academic misconduct.

Results

Graduate student innovative behavior exerts a negative predictive effect on academic misconduct, with a stronger emphasis on innovative behavior associated with a reduced likelihood of academic misconduct. Academic anxiety plays a mediating role in the relationship between graduate student innovative behavior and academic misconduct. Educational levels and employment confidence each play moderating roles in the latter stages of the mediation effects concerning graduate student innovative behavior, academic anxiety, and academic misconduct.

Conclusion

This study reveals the mediating role of academic anxiety in the relationship between innovative behavior and graduate student academic misconduct. It also identifies the moderating roles of employment confidence and educational levels. These findings deepen our understanding of the relationship between innovative behavior and graduate student academic misconduct and are conducive to preventing such misconduct among graduate students.

Social Comparison on Social Media Increases Career Frustration: A Focus on the Mitigating Effect of Companionship

Social media has become a platform for the daily exchange of information. Although some studies have explored the role and influence of social media on career development, few have examined how daily social media use impacts individuals’ perceptions and emotions regarding their careers. The present study examined this issue using two surveys. We predicted that social comparison would mediate the link between social media usage and its psychological impact. Moreover, we hypothesized that the impact would be mitigated by social interactions (companionship). Study 1 (a self-reported survey that included 309 Japanese employees) demonstrated that viewing other users’ positive posts about their careers could lead to career frustration through social comparison. Concurrently, this study revealed that daily casual interaction with others reduced career frustration. Study 2 was based on an analysis of 1,254 responses obtained from a 7-day experience sampling method survey. It revealed that viewing other people’s career-related posts was associated with upward, downward, and non-directional social comparison. In turn, upward social comparison evoked career frustration at both between- and within-person levels, while downward comparison decreased career frustration at a between-person level. Similar to Study 1, the results of Study 2 indicated that career frustration was mitigated by casual communication with others. Both studies provide evidence that (1) daily social media use affects one’s perception and feelings about their career through social comparison, and (2) career frustration evoked through virtual interactions with others is mitigated by casual interactions in a face-to-face setting.

Rational emotive occupational health coaching for quality of work-life among primary school administrators

BACKGROUND

This study aimed at investigating the effect of rational emotive occupational health coaching on quality of work-life among primary school administrators.

METHOD

This is a double blinded and randomized control design study. A total of 158 administrators were sampled, half of them were exposed to rational emotive occupational health treatment package that lasted for 12 sessions. Two self-report measures were utilized in assessing the participants using quality of work life scale. Data collected were analyzed using MANOVA statistical tool.

RESULT

The results showed that rational emotive occupational health coaching is effective in improving perception of quality of work-life among public administrators. A follow-up result showed that rational emotive occupational health coaching had a significant effect on primary school administrators' quality of work life.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded rational emotive occupation health coaching is useful therapeutic strategy in improving quality of work of primary school administrators, hence, future researchers and clinical practitioners should adopt cognitive-behavioral techniques and principles in helping employers as well as employees. Based on the primary findings and limitations of this study, future studies, occupational psychotherapists should qualitatively explore the clinical relevance of rational emotive occupational health practice across cultures using different populations.

Risk, Protective, and Associated Factors of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms and Campus Health Services Utilization Among Black Men on a College Campus

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to analyze relationships among social and environmental determinants serving as risk, protective, and important covariate factors for mental health risk and help-seeking among Black men on a college campus.

METHODS

A secondary data analysis was conducted utilizing an ongoing, campus-wide survey at a large, urban, public university. Measures included depressive and anxiety symptoms; campus service utilization; risk factors (e.g., financial status); protective factors (social support/religiosity); and additional covariates (substance use/GPA). Multiple linear regressions were conducted to examine relationships between these factors, symptoms and help-seeking.

RESULTS

Data is included for 681 students. Findings indicated that stressful life events were associated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms (B = 0.39, p < 0.001) and depressive symptoms (B = 0.33, p = 0.013). Cannabis use (B = 1.14, p = .020) was also associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. We found that financial status (B = 0.21, p = 0.041) was positively associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and endorsement of religiosity was associated with lower levels anxiety (B = - 0.23, p = 0.019) and depressive symptoms (B = - 0.32, p = 0.035). Religiosity predicted lower utilization of campus health services.

CONCLUSIONS

The key findings indicated that Black men's mental health is negatively influenced by stressful live events and cannabis use. As religiosity was associated with lower levels of symptoms and utilization, it may be beneficial to assess this in future work. Further research is needed to address and improve mental health and help-seeking among these men.