What Drives Career Engagement? The Predictive Role of Socioemotional Skills and Career Adaptability
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Socioemotional Skills, Career Adaptability, Career Engagement, University Students, Career Development
Abstract
In contemporary labour markets characterized by uncertainty and rapid change, psychological resources that support proactive career behaviour are increasingly important. Drawing on Career Construction Theory, this study examined the relationships between socioemotional skills, career adaptability, and career engagement among university students. Participants were 204 interns who completed measures of socioemotional skills, career adaptability, and career engagement. Correlational analyses revealed positive associations among all major variables. Hierarchical regression showed that socioemotional skills significantly predicted career engagement after controlling for sociodemographic factors (ΔR² = .31, p < .001). However, the inclusion of career adaptability substantially increased explained variance (ΔR² = .26), with the final model accounting for 59.6% of the variance in engagement. Concern (β = .301, p < .001), Confidence (β = .204, p = .018), and Curiosity (β = .193, p = .030) emerged as the strongest predictors. These findings suggest that while socioemotional skills provide a foundational basis, career adaptability represents a more proximal predictor of proactive career behaviour. The study contributes to the literature by clarifying the complementary roles of these constructs in fostering career engagement among university students.
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References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Amanda Espagolla Santos, Lucy Leal Melo-Silva, José Egídio Barbosa Oliveira (Author)
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