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. 2017 Sep;29(3):175-185.
doi: 10.3946/kjme.2017.63. Epub 2017 Aug 29.

Career exploration behavior of Korean medical students

Hyejin An  1 , Seung-Hee Lee  2
Affiliations

Career exploration behavior of Korean medical students

Hyejin An et al. Korean J Med Educ. 2017 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose: This study is to analyze the effects of medical students' social support and career barriers on career exploration behavior mediated by career decision-making self-efficacy.

Methods: We applied the t-test to investigate the difference among the variables based on gender and admission types. Also, we performed path analysis to verify the effect of perceived career barriers and social support on career exploration behavior with career decision efficacy as a mediator.

Results: First, we noted statistically significant gender and admission type difference in social support, career barriers and career exploration behaviors. Second, social support and career barriers were found to influence career exploration behavior as a mediating variable for career decision-making self-efficacy.

Conclusion: Social support and career barriers as perceived by medical students influenced their career exploration behavior, with their decision-making self-efficacy serving as a full mediator. Therefore, this study has educational implications for career program development and educational training for career decision-making self-efficacy.

Keywords: Career barriers; Career decision-making self-efficacy; Career exploration behavior; Social support.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.. Full Mediation Model of Career Exploration Behavior
**p<0.01, ***p<0.001.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.. Partial Mediation Model of Career Exploration Behavior
**p<0.01, ***p<0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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