The effect of group psychoeducation grounded in the Psychology of Working Theory on university students' career adaptability, work volition, and the future decent work perception

The Psychology of Working Theory explains the access of economically disadvantaged and marginalized individuals to decent work through psychological factors such as career adaptability and work volition. In this study, the effects of an eight-session group psychoeducation program developed based on work psychology theory, including career adaptability and will to work competencies on economically disadvantaged university students' career adaptability, will to work and perception of future decent work were examined using a 3x4 split-plot experimental design with pretest-posttest-follow-up test, placebo and control groups. In addition, the participants' views of group psychoeducation grounded in the Psychology of Working Theory were included. The Economic Constraints Scale, Career Adaptability Scale Short Form, Work Volition Scale Student Form, Future Decent Work Scale, personal information form, and process evaluation form were used in the study. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for repeated measures and content analysis. As a result of the research showed that the group psychoeducation program grounded in the Psychology of Working Theory effectively increased the levels of university students' career adaptability, work volition, and perceptions of future decent work and that this effect remained permanent at the end of the one-month and three-month follow-up periods. The theoretical model of the Psychology of Working Theory was empirically validated in this study, which reveals that perceptions of future decent work can be turned positive by increasing career adaptability and work volition in university students. These findings provide evidence for the causality of the relationship between career adaptability, work volition, and perceptions of future decent work. It is recommended that the group psychoeducation program grounded in the Psychology of Working Theory, the effectiveness of which was demonstrated in this study, be more widely used in university career centers, especially for the career development of disadvantaged individuals. In this way, a contribution can be made to increasing social justice in career life.