Linking Decent Work With Academic Engagement and Satisfaction Among First-Generation College Students: A Psychology of Working Perspective

Yin MA; Genghua HUANG; Kelsey L. AUTIN

doi:10.1177/1069072720943153

Linking Decent Work With Academic Engagement and Satisfaction Among First-Generation College Students: A Psychology of Working Perspective

Yin MA, Genghua HUANG^*, Kelsey L. AUTIN

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Links between decent work and academic outcomes among a sample (N = 1,231) of first-generation college students were examined based on Psychology of Working Theory (PWT). A theory-driven mediation model was proposed by placing decent work as a mediator between predictors of PWT and academic outcomes. The predictor component of PWT was supported. Future decent work perceptions positively predicted academic engagement but not academic satisfaction. Support for the mediation results was mixed. Overall, findings suggested that positive future decent work perceptions may boost academic engagement for university students. Thus, interventions that aim to improve student academic satisfaction should be implemented. Two malleable psychological factors, namely, work volition and career adaptability appear to be two malleable psychological factors that could be used as targets when working with this group. Theoretical contributions and future research directions are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	148-163
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Career Assessment
Volume	29
Issue number	1
Early online date	22 Jul 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072720943153
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2021

Bibliographical note

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Lingnan University Faculty Research Grant (Project Number: 102170). The research is also funded by the “Double First Class” project-the funds for the talent team construction.

Keywords

academic engagement
academic satisfaction
first-generation college student
future decent work perception
psychology of working theory

Access to Document

10.1177/1069072720943153

Cite this

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title = "Linking Decent Work With Academic Engagement and Satisfaction Among First-Generation College Students: A Psychology of Working Perspective",

abstract = "Links between decent work and academic outcomes among a sample (N = 1,231) of first-generation college students were examined based on Psychology of Working Theory (PWT). A theory-driven mediation model was proposed by placing decent work as a mediator between predictors of PWT and academic outcomes. The predictor component of PWT was supported. Future decent work perceptions positively predicted academic engagement but not academic satisfaction. Support for the mediation results was mixed. Overall, findings suggested that positive future decent work perceptions may boost academic engagement for university students. Thus, interventions that aim to improve student academic satisfaction should be implemented. Two malleable psychological factors, namely, work volition and career adaptability appear to be two malleable psychological factors that could be used as targets when working with this group. Theoretical contributions and future research directions are discussed.",

keywords = "academic engagement, academic satisfaction, first-generation college student, future decent work perception, psychology of working theory",

author = "Yin MA and Genghua HUANG and AUTIN, {Kelsey L.}",

note = "The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Lingnan University Faculty Research Grant (Project Number: 102170). The research is also funded by the “Double First Class” project-the funds for the talent team construction.",

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doi = "10.1177/1069072720943153",

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AU - MA, Yin

AU - HUANG, Genghua

AU - AUTIN, Kelsey L.

N1 - The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Lingnan University Faculty Research Grant (Project Number: 102170). The research is also funded by the “Double First Class” project-the funds for the talent team construction.

PY - 2021/2/1

Y1 - 2021/2/1

N2 - Links between decent work and academic outcomes among a sample (N = 1,231) of first-generation college students were examined based on Psychology of Working Theory (PWT). A theory-driven mediation model was proposed by placing decent work as a mediator between predictors of PWT and academic outcomes. The predictor component of PWT was supported. Future decent work perceptions positively predicted academic engagement but not academic satisfaction. Support for the mediation results was mixed. Overall, findings suggested that positive future decent work perceptions may boost academic engagement for university students. Thus, interventions that aim to improve student academic satisfaction should be implemented. Two malleable psychological factors, namely, work volition and career adaptability appear to be two malleable psychological factors that could be used as targets when working with this group. Theoretical contributions and future research directions are discussed.

AB - Links between decent work and academic outcomes among a sample (N = 1,231) of first-generation college students were examined based on Psychology of Working Theory (PWT). A theory-driven mediation model was proposed by placing decent work as a mediator between predictors of PWT and academic outcomes. The predictor component of PWT was supported. Future decent work perceptions positively predicted academic engagement but not academic satisfaction. Support for the mediation results was mixed. Overall, findings suggested that positive future decent work perceptions may boost academic engagement for university students. Thus, interventions that aim to improve student academic satisfaction should be implemented. Two malleable psychological factors, namely, work volition and career adaptability appear to be two malleable psychological factors that could be used as targets when working with this group. Theoretical contributions and future research directions are discussed.

KW - academic engagement

KW - academic satisfaction

KW - first-generation college student

KW - future decent work perception

KW - psychology of working theory

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DO - 10.1177/1069072720943153

M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

SN - 1069-0727

VL - 29

SP - 148

EP - 163

JO - Journal of Career Assessment

JF - Journal of Career Assessment

IS - 1

ER -

Linking Decent Work With Academic Engagement and Satisfaction Among First-Generation College Students: A Psychology of Working Perspective

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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One Country, Diverse Employment Systems: Measuring Employment Regulations in Sub-national China Based on Employment Protection Legislation Index (EPLI)

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Linking Decent Work With Academic Engagement and Satisfaction Among First-Generation College Students: A Psychology of Working Perspective

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

One Country, Diverse Employment Systems: Measuring Employment Regulations in Sub-national China Based on Employment Protection Legislation Index (EPLI)

Cite this