Interest and Competence Flexibility and Decision-Making Difficulties: Mediating Role of Career Adaptability

Using the career adaptability framework of Savickas and Porfeli (2012), we examined the relationship of career adaptability to interest and competence flexibility and career decision-making difficulties. Participants were 535 male and 795 female Chinese senior secondary students in Hong Kong. Findings from hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that competence flexibility was associated with fewer career decision-making difficulties and higher levels of career adaptability. Conversely, interest flexibility was associated with more decision-making difficulties and lower levels of career adaptability. Path analyses revealed that career adaptability partially mediated the relationship of competence and interest flexibility with decision-making difficulties. The mediating effects were significant for lack of information and inconsistent information (Gati et al., 1996), but not for readiness. Overall, findings supported the career adaptability framework. Research and practice implications are discussed, especially in relation to the career development needs of students in Chinese communities.