Open Access

The role of psychological resilience and career adaptability in the relationship between perceived social support and employment anxiety among college students

Hao Fang¹, Xiaoyu Xu^2,*

1 Office of Asset Management, Zhejiang Agricultural Business College, Shaoxing, 312088, China
2 College of Advanced Agriculture, Zhejiang Agricultural Business College, Shaoxing, 312088, China

* Corresponding Author: Xiaoyu Xu. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2025, 35(1), 151-157. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.065786

Received 01 September 2024; Accepted 19 January 2025; Issue published 30 April 2025

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between perceived social support and employment anxiety among Chinese college students, as well as the mediating and moderating effects of psychological resilience and career adaptability on this relationship. A total of 1928 college students (females = 1371, mean age = 20.42, SD = 1.05) completed the Perceived Social Support Scale, Employment Anxiety Questionnaire, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Career Adapt-Abilities Scale. Mediation analysis results showed that psychological resilience mediated the relationship between perceived social support and employment anxiety for lower employment anxiety. Career adaptability moderated the mediating effect of psychological resilience for lower employment anxiety than with either of the variables alone. The findings are consistent with cognitive diathesis-stress theory and career construction theory which propose that individuals’ cognitive structures and psychological predispositions interact with environmental stressors to shape their career development and psychological well-being. Essentially, students who have a robust social support system, high career adaptability, and are psychologically resilient are less likely to experience employment anxiety.

---

Keywords

---