The Mediating Role of Self-Concept in the Relationship Between Career Maturity and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy of Bulacan State University – External Campuses College Students

Career decision-making is a significant concern for many adolescents. They must gain a clear understanding of themselves to make mature and confident career decisions. Therefore, this empirically driven research explores the mediating role of self-concept in the relationship between career maturity and career decision-making self-efficacy among college students at Bulacan State University – External Campuses. This cross-sectional mediation study includes 726 college students, composed of 482 females and 244 males, aged 18-24 years. The instruments used to collect data are the Career Maturity Inventory – Attitude Scale (CMI-AS), Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy -Short Form (CDMSE-SF), and the Coppersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI). CSEI was used to measure an individual’s self-esteem and reflects aspects of self-concept, particularly how a person perceives and values themselves. The Internal consistency of the measures is 0.628 for CMI-AS, 0.933 for CDMSE-SF, and 0.824 for CSEI. Using a cross-sectional mediation design and guided by Career Development and Social Cognitive Career theories, the results of this study revealed that: (a) career maturity significantly predicts CDMSE; (b) career maturity significantly predicts self-concept; (c) self-concept does not significantly predict CDMSE; and (d) career maturity’s influence on CDMSE is primarily direct rather than mediated by self-concept. The findings provide valuable insights into how to support college students in their career development and decision-making processes. The findings could also serve as a basis for developing career-related programs for the students of the External Campuses of Bulacan State University.