Self-efficacy is an individual’s belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish certain tasks.
It influences career decision-making by affecting an individual’s confidence in their ability to achieve their career goals, pursue opportunities, and overcome challenges.
Li, F., Shi, M., & Feng, R. (2025). Social media use and job choices: The mediating roles of work values and self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1485663. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1485663
Key Points
- Social media use is positively associated with flexible and diverse employment choices among college students.
- Work values and self-efficacy mediate the relationship between social media use and employment choices.
- Self-efficacy enhances the association between work values and students’ employment choices.
- Career guidance should encourage appropriate social media use while avoiding over-reliance.
Rationale
Social media has become a central component of college students’ daily lives, significantly impacting their information acquisition and processing related to career development and employment decisions.
Studies have shown that social media influences individuals’ career choices by providing access to information about potential employers and shaping work values.
Work values, defined as intrinsic principles and expectations individuals prioritize when selecting employment, play a crucial role in employment choices.
Self-efficacy, an individual’s belief in their ability to accomplish tasks and achieve goals, is also linked to career decision-making.
This study aims to further investigate these relationships by examining the mediating roles of work values and self-efficacy in the association between social media use and college students’ employment choices.
Method
Procedure
- Participants completed an online survey.
- The survey assessed social media use, work values, self-efficacy, and job choices.
Sample
- 254 college students from two universities in Anhui Province, China.
- Age: 22.35 ± 2.14 years.
- Gender: 105 male, 149 female.
Measures
- Social Media Use: Measured based on frequency of use, duration of use, and level of interaction.
- Work Values: Assessed using an eight-item scale measuring career fulfillment, job satisfaction, career development opportunities, work-life balance, work environment, and salary.
- Job Choice: Measured using a 10-item scale covering career development opportunities, work environment, salary, career stability, work-life balance, and work interest.
- Self-Efficacy: Assessed using a 10-item scale measuring self-esteem, self-confidence, personal growth, social support, emotional regulation, and goal setting.
Statistical Measures
- Multiple regression analysis was used to test the mediation effects of work values and self-efficacy.
- A bootstrapping method was used to verify the significance of indirect associations.
Results
Hypothesis 1
Social media use is positively associated with college students’ work values.
- Result: Supported. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive association between social media use and work values among college students (r = 0.175, p < 0.01).
Hypothesis 2
College students’ work values mediate the positive association between social media use and their job choices.
- Result: Supported. Regression analysis and bootstrapping test demonstrated that work values partially mediate the relationship between social media use and job choices, with the indirect effect explaining 15.97% of the total effect.
Hypothesis 3
Self-efficacy mediates the positive association between college students’ work values and their job choices.
- Result: Supported. Regression analysis and bootstrapping test indicated that self-efficacy partially mediates the relationship between work values and job choices, with the indirect effect explaining 36.37% of the total effect.
Hypothesis 4
The interaction of work values and self-efficacy mediates the positive association between social media use and college students’ job choices.
- Result: Supported. Bootstrapping test revealed that the interaction between work values and self-efficacy also partially mediates the relationship between social media use and job choices, accounting for 2.52% of the total effect.
Hypothesis 5
Social media use is positively associated with the job choices of college students.
- Result: Supported. Regression analysis showed a significant positive association between social media use and job choices (β = 0.322, t = 5.112, p < 0.01).
Insight
This study provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between social media use and college students’ employment choices.
The findings highlight the important role of work values and self-efficacy in shaping career decisions in the digital age.
The study extends previous research by demonstrating the mediating effects of these variables and their interaction in the relationship between social media use and job choices.
Future research could explore the impact of different types of social media platforms and content on career decision-making.
Additionally, investigating the moderating effects of cultural factors and individual differences could provide a more nuanced understanding of this phenomenon.
Implications
The findings of this study have implications for educators, career counselors, and policymakers.
Educators should integrate social media literacy into the curriculum to help students critically evaluate online information and make informed decisions.
Career counselors should focus on strengthening students’ work values and self-efficacy, providing guidance and support in aligning career choices with personal values and goals.
Policymakers should consider the impact of social media on career development and implement policies that promote responsible and informed social media use among young people.
Strengths
This study had several methodological strengths, including:
- The study used a comprehensive model to examine the relationship between social media use and job choices, considering the mediating roles of work values and self-efficacy.
- The use of a large sample size and random sampling method enhances the generalizability of the findings.
- The study employed robust statistical methods, including multiple regression and bootstrapping, to test the hypotheses.
Limitations
This study also had several limitations, including:
- The cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships between the variables.
- The study focused on college students in a specific region, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other populations.
- The study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to social desirability bias.
References
Primary reference
Li, F., Shi, M., & Feng, R. (2025). Social media use and job choices: The mediating roles of work values and self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1485663. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1485663
Other references
Abessolo, M., Hirschi, A., & Rossier, J. (2019). Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Career Values Questionnaire: A Measure Integrating Work Values, Career Orientations, and Career Anchors. Journal of Career Development. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845319846567
Alshahrani, H., & Rasmussen Pennington, D. (2020). “How to use it more?” Self-efficacy and its sources in the use of social media for knowledge sharing. Journal of Documentation, 76(1), 231-257.
Ansari, J. A. N., & Khan, N. A. (2020). Exploring the role of social media in collaborative learning the new domain of learning. Smart Learning Environments, 7(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-020-00118-7
Austin, A. E. (2002). Preparing the next generation of faculty: Graduate school as socialization to the academic career. The journal of higher education, 73(1), 94-122. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2002.11777132
Avallone, F., Farnese, M. L., Pepe, S., & Vecchione, M. (2010). The Work Values Questionnaire (WVQ): Revisiting Schwartz’s Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) for work contexts. BPA-Applied Psychology Bulletin (Bollettino di Psicologia Applicata).
Bandura, A. (2006). Guide for constructing self-efficacy scales. Self-efficacy beliefs of adolescents, 5(1), 307-337.
Socratic Questions:
- How might the findings of this study differ across different cultures or age groups?
- What are the ethical considerations surrounding the use of social media for career development and employment purposes?
- How can social media be used to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
- What are the potential risks of relying too heavily on social media for career guidance and information?
- How can individuals develop a critical approach to evaluating information and advice obtained through social media?
- What are the implications of this study for the future of work and education in the digital age?
