대학생의 진로 스트레스가 진로동기 및 진로결정 자기효능감 및 진로준비행동에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구: 진로결정수준의 조절효과 = A Study on the Effects of Career Stress on Career Motivation, Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy, and Career Preparation Behavior among College Students: The Moderating Effect of Career Decision Level

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study aimed to comprehensively examine the effects of career stress on career preparation behavior among university students and to identify the sequential mediating roles of career motivation and career decision-making self-efficacy, as well as the moderating role of career decision level in these relationships. While previous studies have mainly addressed the direct or fragmentary relationship between career stress and career decision-making, this research empirically investigated the multi-stage psychological mechanisms linking stress, motivation, self-efficacy, and behavior. Furthermore, by including career decision level as a moderating variable, the study explored how individuals’ certainty in their career decisions interacts with psychological processes leading to actual career behaviors.
The theoretical foundation of this study was drawn from the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent, Brown & Hackett, 1994) and Bandura’s (1977) self-efficacy theory. SCCT posits that personal cognitive factors and environmental influences interact to shape career-related behaviors, emphasizing the central role of self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Based on this framework, career stress was conceptualized as an external pressure factor, whereas career motivation and career decision-making self-efficacy were regarded as internal psychological resources. The interactive relationships among these constructs were empirically tested.
A total of 300 university students enrolled in four-year and junior colleges across South Korea participated in the survey. Data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique through SmartPLS 4.0. The measurement scales for career stress, career motivation, career decision-making self-efficacy, career decision level, and career preparation behavior were adapted from validated instruments in previous research. Reliability (Cronbach’s α) and construct validity, including convergent and discriminant validity, were verified. The analysis included descriptive statistics, reliability testing, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and path analysis to examine direct, mediating, and moderating effects.
The results revealed the following: (1) career stress had a negative effect on career motivation, indicating that anxiety and pressure in the career decision-making process weaken individuals’ intrinsic motivation to explore and plan their careers; (2) career motivation positively affected career decision-making self-efficacy, demonstrating that higher intrinsic motivation strengthens one’s belief in their ability to perform career-related tasks; (3) career decision-making self-efficacy positively influenced career preparation behavior, implying that students with stronger efficacy actively engage in career exploration, planning, and skill development. (4) Both career motivation and career decision-making self-efficacy showed a sequential mediating effect on the relationship between career stress and career preparation behavior. This finding suggests that the influence of stress operates indirectly through reduced motivation and weakened self-efficacy rather than directly suppressing career behavior. (5) Career decision level moderated the relationship between career decision-making self-efficacy and career preparation behavior, such that the positive influence of self-efficacy on behavior was stronger among students with higher levels of decision clarity.
The explanatory power (R²= .48) of the structural model indicated a moderate-to-high level of predictive validity, supporting the robustness of the proposed framework. Collectively, these findings suggest that career stress does not merely function as a negative emotional state but influences career preparation behavior through a multi-layered psychological mechanism mediated by motivation and self-efficacy. In particular, career motivation and self-efficacy serve as key buffers that mitigate the adverse effects of stress, while career decision level determines the extent to which these psychological resources translate into concrete actions.
Therefore, in order to facilitate career development among university students, interventions should move beyond stress reduction and focus on strengthening internal motivation, enhancing self-efficacy, and promoting a higher level of decision clarity. Rather than perceiving career stress solely as a negative factor, it should be reframed as a developmental opportunity that can stimulate self-reflection and growth. Such an integrated approach would ultimately contribute to fostering students’career adaptability and lay a sustainable foundation for long-term career development.

Key words: Career Stress, Career Preparation Behavior, Career Motivation, Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy, Career Decision Level

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Ⅰ. 서 론 6
• 1. 연구의 배경 및 목적 6
• 1) 연구의 배경 6
• 2) 연구의 목적 11
• 2. 논문의 구성 및 내용 14
• Ⅱ. 이론적 배경 및 선행 연구 18
• 1. 진로발달 20
• 1) 개념 정의 20
• 2) 진로발달 이론적 배경 24
• 3) 대학생의 진로발달 27
• 2. 진로 스트레스 29
• 1) 개념 정의 29
• 2) 진로 스트레스 개념 및 구성 요인 31
• 3) 대학생 진로 스트레스의 특성 35
• 4) 진로 스트레스의 선행 연구 38
• 3. 진로 동기 43
• 1) 개념 정의 43
• 2) 개념 및 구성 요인 45
• 3) 선행 연구 고찰 49
• 4. 진로결정자기효능감 53
• 1) 개념 정의 53
• 2) 개념 및 구성 요인 55
• 3) 선행 연구 고찰 59
• 5. 진로결정수준 63
• 1) 개념 및 구성 요인 63
• 2) 선행 연구 고찰 66
• 6. 진로준비행동 70
• 1) 개념 및 구성 요인 70
• 2) 선행 연구 고찰 74
• Ⅲ. 연구 모형 및 가설 설정 78
• 1. 선행논문의 연구 모형 고찰 78
• 2. 선행 연구와의 차별점 81
• 3. 연구 가설 및 연구 모형 설정 84
• 1) 연구 가설 84
• (1) 진로 스트레스와 진로동기 간의 관계 84
• (2) 진로 스트레스와 진로결정 자기효능감 간의 관계 85
• (3) 진로 스트레스와 진로준비행동 간의 관계 87
• (4) 진로동기와 진로결정 자기효능감 간의 관계 89
• (5) 진로 동기와 진로준비행동 간의 관계 90
• (6) 진로결정 자기효능감과 진로준비행동 간의 관계 92
• (7) 진로 스트레스와 진로준비행동 간의 관계에서 진로동기 및 진로 결정자기효능감의 순차적 매개 효과 93
• (8) 진로결정 자기효능감과 진로준비행동 간의 관계에서 진로결정수준 의 조절 효과 95
• 4. 연구 모형 설정 96
• 1) 연구 모형 설정의 필요성 96
• 5. 변수의 조작적 정의 및 측정 도구 101
• 6. 조사 방법 105
• 7. 분석 방법 106
• Ⅳ. 실증분석 결과 106
• 1. 자료수집 및 표본 특성 107
• 2. 연구 가설 검증 109
• 1) 타당도와 신뢰도 검증 109
• 2) 판별 타당도 113
• 3) 가설 검증 114
• 4) 조절 효과 검증 118
• 5) 가설 검증 종합 및 연구 모형 120
• Ⅴ. 결론 124
• 1. 연구결과 124
• 2. 학문적 시사점 126
• 3. 실무적 시사점 128
• 4. 정책적 시사점 132
• 5. 연구의 한계 및 향후 연구 방향 134
• 참 고 문 헌 136
• 영 문 초 록 153
• 부 록 157