The mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy in the relationship between 21st century skills and proactive career behaviors of gifted students

Providing effective career guidance and psychological counseling services to individuals, particularly students, throughout their lifelong career journey is of utmost importance. In the literature, it is observed that there are a limited number of studies concerning 21st-century skills, career decision-making self-efficacy, career behaviors, and the guidance of gifted students in this regard. Conducting research and discussing the results to support the career development of gifted students is considered to contribute significantly to the field by ensuring that students receive effective career guidance and psychological counseling services. In line with this perspective, this study examines the mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy in the relationship between 21st-century skills and proactive career behaviors of gifted students. The study group comprises 497 gifted secondary school students (270 females, 227 males) attending BILSEM (Science and Art Centers) in various cities in Turkey during the 2023-2024 academic year. The research employs a relational survey model, and data were collected using the Socio-Demographic Information Form, the Multidimensional 21st Century Skills Scale, the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form, and the Career Engagement Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 23.0 software packages. The findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between 21st-century skills, career decision-making self-efficacy, and proactive career behaviors. Furthermore, based on the results obtained from the mediation model, it was concluded that the 21st-century skills of gifted students positively and significantly predicted proactive career behaviors and that career decision-making self-efficacy played a partial mediating role in this relationship. The results were discussed within the framework of career guidance and psychological counseling, and recommendations were provided. Keywords: Science and art centers, gifted students, 21st-century skills, career decision-making self-efficacy, proactive career behaviors.