The relationship between perceived social support and career adaptability among Chinese vocational students post-COVID-19: A path analysis approach

Career adaptability is a key ability for young people to cope with challenges and changes in career development. This study explored the relationship between perceived social support and the career adaptability of Chinese vocational students post-COVID-19, along with the mediating role of self-efficacy and positive coping. Using cluster sampling, we collected 846 questionnaires from current vocational students in China. Our results showed that perceived social support was positively associated with career adaptability, influencing it through three pathways: the mediating effect of self-efficacy, the mediating effect of positive coping, and the chain mediating effect of self-efficacy and positive coping. Perceived social support also had positive associations with self-efficacy, positive coping, and career adaptability. Our findings provide new insight into potential strategies for promoting the development and adaptation skills of vocational students post-COVID-19.