The Impact of Lifelong Education Participation Motivation on Career Development Behavior among Chinese White-collar Employees : With Social Support and Self-efficacy as Mediating Variables

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In the context of globalization and rapidly changing economic environments, white-collar employees face dual challenges: technological advancements and intensifying job competition. Traditional career development paths struggle to meet the demands of this new landscape, proving inadequate in addressing the evolving requirements of the workplace. Lifelong education, as a form of continuous learning, provides employees with opportunities to update their knowledge and enhance their skills, serving as a critical means of improving professional competitiveness. In a world characterized by rapid technological innovation and constant market shifts, lifelong education has become an essential tool for employees to maintain professional agility and adapt to change. However, the ways in which lifelong education participation motivation influences career development behavior, and the roles that social support and self-efficacy play in this process, remain underexplored. To address these gaps, this study systematically investigates the impact of lifelong education participation motivation on career development behavior, with a focus on social support and self-efficacy as mediating variables, combining practical needs and theoretical research. To achieve the objectives of this study, a survey was conducted among white-collar employees residing in Beijing and Tianjin, China, yielding 813 valid responses. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and AMOS 26 software, employing reliability and validity tests, exploratory factor analysis, regression analysis, and structural equation modeling to validate the hypotheses. This study examines the direct impact of lifelong education participation motivation on career development behavior and explores the mediating roles of social support and self-efficacy in this relationship. Through regression analysis, the strength of relationships among various variables and the mechanisms of their influence were elucidated. The findings confirm that lifelong education participation motivation positively influences career development behavior and that this relationship is indirectly mediated by social support and self-efficacy. Specifically, lifelong education participation motivation enhances employees' ability to obtain social support, contributing to increased confidence and initiative in their career development. Additionally, it strengthens self-efficacy, enabling employees to clarify their career goals, foster stronger motivation, and positively influence the realization of their career aspirations. This study enriches the theoretical understanding of lifelong education and offers practical implications for organizations aiming to maintain competitiveness in rapidly changing business environments. It provides valuable insights into how employees can utilize lifelong education to achieve sustainable career development in dynamic labor markets. By emphasizing the importance of lifelong education, this study makes significant theoretical and practical contributions to supporting career development. Keywords: White-collar Employees, Lifelong Education Participation Motivation, Social Support, Self-efficacy, Career Development Behavior

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstractⅲ
• Ⅰ. Introduction 1
• 1. Research Necessity and Purpose 1
• 2. Research Questions 6
• 3. Definition of Terms 8
• Ⅱ. Theoretical Background 11
• 1. Lifelong Education 11
• 1) Concept of Lifelong Education 11
• 2) Content of Lifelong Education 13
• 3) Scope of Lifelong Education 16
• 2. Lifelong Education Participation Motivation 17
• 1) Concept of Lifelong Education Participation Motivation 17
• 2) Dimensions of Lifelong Education Participation Motivation 19
• 3) Prior Research on Lifelong Education Participation Motivation 22
• 3. Career Development Behavior 28
• 1) Concept of Career Development Behavior 28
• 2) Dimensions of Career Development Behavior 30
• 3) Prior Research on Career Development Behavior 33
• 4. Social Support 36
• 1) Concept of Social Support 36
• 2) Dimensions of Social Support 38
• 3) Prior Research on Social Support 41
• 5. Self-efficacy 44
• 1) Concept of Self-efficacy 44
• 2) Dimensions of Self-efficacy 47
• 3) Prior Research on Self-efficacy 49
• Ⅲ. Research Methods 53
• 1. Research Design 53
• 1) Research Procedure 53
• 2) Research Model 55
• 3) Research Hypothesis 60
• 2. Research Subjects 62
• 3. Research Tools 63
• 1) Lifelong Education Participation Scale 63
• 2) Career Development Behavior Scale 64
• 3) Social Support Scale 65
• 4) Career Self-efficacy Scale 66
• 5) Exploratory Factor Analysis 67
• 4. Data Collection and Analysis Methods 72
• viii
• 1) Pilot Study 72
• 2) Main Study 74
• Ⅳ. Empirical Analysis 76
• 1. Descriptive Statistical Analysis 76
• 2. Confirmatory Factor Analysis 78
• 3. Regression Analysis 84
• 4. Hypothesis Test Results 101
• Ⅴ. Conclusions 104
• 1. Discussion and Conclusion 104
• 2. Research Limitations and Suggestions 115
• References 117
• Appendix 136
• 국문초록 142