engleski

Students’ Locus of Control and Concerns about Completion of Schooling: Does Career Adaptability Play a Role?

Purpose: According to career construction theory (Savickas, 2005), career adaptability is an important psychosocial resource in a period of transitions, such as from school to work. Previous research has shown the importance of students’ locus of control, as well as career adaptability for a number of career outcomes. However, there is a lack of research on students’ career concerns. The present study examined whether the locus of control has direct and/or indirect effects, via career adaptability, on different aspects of concerns about the completion of schooling. Design/Methodology: We conducted an online study among 192 university students in Croatia who were in their final years of study. The students completed Rotter's Locus of Control Scale, Career Adapt- Abilities Scale, and Concerns about Completion of Schooling Questionnaire. We conducted a mediation analysis using Mplus 8.1. Results: The students who express a more external locus of control are more concerned about their employment, acquired knowledge and skills, and adapting to the future work environment (significant direct effects). However, the locus of control has an indirect effect, through career adaptability, only on the concern about adapting to a future work environment. Limitations: The study was based on the cross-sectional data. Research/Practical Implications: These findings suggest that fostering adaptability resources can be beneficial for those individuals who have an external locus of control especially when focusing on the concerns they have regarding their future work-place. Originality/Value: The study provides a contribution to the research of career adaptability by filling in the gap in research on students’ concerns in a period of transition to work.

career adaptability, locus of control, concerns, completion of schooling

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