Psychosocial predictors of psychological well-being in university students based on social cognitive career theory

The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of how university students' psychological well-being are predicted by their level of career decision self-efficacy, vocational outcome expectations, perceived social support and perceived parental attitudes. The university students who attended Istanbul University during 2013-2014 academic year was the participants of the study. The study consisted of 425 first, second, third and fourth year students from various faculties in Istanbul University, 304 of whom were female and 121 of whom were male. Personal Information Form, Scales of Psychogical Well-Being, Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale, Vocational Outcome Expectations Scale, Social Provisions Scale, Short-EMBU were administered to the students. The results of the regression analyses revealed that the variables, in accordance with their contributions to the total variance, perceived social support, career decision self-efficacy and perceived parenting attitudes-rejection attitute from mother were, respectively, significant predictors of psychological well-being. All the variables mentioned explained 50.3 % of the total variance. Moreover, the results of the mediator analyses revealed that both career decision self-efficacy and vocational outcome expectations had a partial mediating role on the relationship between perceived social support, perceived parenting attitudes-rejection attitute (from father), perceived parenting attitudes-emotional warmth (from both father and mother) and psychological well-being; however, only vocational outcome expectations had a partial mediating role on the relationship between perceived parenting attitudes-rejection attitute (from mother) and psychological well-being. The results of the study were discussed within the relevant literature; in addition, shortcomings and implications were determined and suggestions for future studies were discussed.