| Objectives:A longitudinal study was used to investigate the level of undergraduates’gerontological services career adaptability,and to explore the trajectory of undergraduates’gerontological services career adaptability and whether there are potential subgroups.In addition,the predictors of subgroups were analyzed based on the Social Cognitive Model of Career Self-management.The purpose of this study is to provide a basis for taking appropriate measures to improve undergraduates’ gerontological services career adaptability.Methods:A longitudinal study design was used in this study.From October 2020 to July 2021,613 undergraduates in geriatric services-related majors who met the inclusion criteria were selected from several universities as study participants.Data were collected in the third(T1),sixth(T2),and ninth(T3)month of their graduation year,and a total of 471 students completed the three surveys.At T1 time point,undergraduates’ gerontological services career adaptability,proactive personality,aging anxiety,attitudes toward older people,geriatric servicing practice learning environment,knowledge about gerontology,career decision selfefficacy,vocational outcome expectation,career motivation of gerontological services,careerrelated parental support,perception of career barriers,and sociodemographic characteristics were assessed.At T2 and T3 time points,undergraduates’ gerontological services career adaptability was followed up.Statistical analysis methods included descriptive analysis,Chisquare test,one-way ANOVA,repeated measures analysis of variance,Latent Growth Curve Models,Latent Growth Mixture Modeling,and multiple logistic regression analysis.Results:1.The level and development trend of undergraduates’ gerontological services career adaptabilityAt T1,T2,and T3,the average scores of gerontological services career adaptability of 471 undergraduates were 86.76± 13.31,88.21±10.39,and 89.11±11.59,respectively,and there was a positive correlation between the three measurement points(all P<0.01).The fitting result of Latent Growth Curve Models showed the growth rate of the gerontological services career adaptability during the three measurements was statistically significant(mean value of the latent slope was 0.970,P<0.001);in addition,there were inter-individual differences in the initial level and growth rate of gerontological services career adaptability(The variance estimates of intercept and slope were 113.606 and 33.460,respectively,all P<0.001),and the covariance parameter estimation results showed a negative correlation between the intercept growth factor and the slope growth factor(P<0.001).2.The subgroup analysis of the trajectory of undergraduates’gerontological services career adaptabilityThe results of Latent Growth Mixture Modeling showed that there were three types of heterogeneous trajectories in undergraduates’ gerontological services career adaptability:Rapid growth group,Stable development group,and Declining group.Among them,the "Rapid Growth Group" accounted for 6.16%,the "Stable Development Group" accounted for 87.47%,and the "Declining Group" accounted for 6.27%.3.The univariate analysis of subgroups on the trajectory of undergraduates’ gerontological services career adaptability(1)Sociodemographic characteristics:There were statistically significant differences among the three subgroups of undergraduates in whether they had served as student leaders(x2=15.879,P<0.001),degree of professional preference(x2=12.148,P=0.016),whether they had experience in caring for the older people(x2=6.499,P=0.039),and whether they had participated in career counseling related to gerontological services(x2=11.664,P=0.003).(2)Personal inputs factors:The differences in proactive personality scores among undergraduates in the three subgroups were statistically significant(P<0.05),and the scores were in the following order:Declining group>Stable development group>Rapid growth group.There were no significant differences in scores of aging anxiety and attitudes toward older people among the three subgroups(all P>0.05).(3)Background contextual affordances factors:The differences in geriatric servicing practice learning environment among undergraduates in the three subgroups were statistically significant(P<0.05),and the scores were in the following order:Declining group>Stable development group>Rapid growth group.(4)Learning experiences factors:There was no significant difference in the scores of knowledge about gerontology among three subgroups of undergraduates(P>0.05).(5)Cognitive-person factors:The differences in career decision self-efficacy,vocational outcome expectation,and career motivation of gerontological services scores among undergraduates in the three subgroups were statistically significant(all P<0.05),and the scores were in the following order:Declining group>Stable development group>Rapid growth group.(6)Contextual supports and barriers factors:The difference in career-related parental support scores among undergraduates in the three subgroups were statistically significant(P<0.05),and the level of the Declining group was significantly higher than that of the Stable development group and Rapid growth group.There was no significant difference in the perception of career barriers among three subgroups(P>0.05).4.The multivariate analysis of subgroups on the trajectory of undergraduates’gerontological services career adaptabilityThe multiple logistic regression analysis showed that,the geriatric servicing practice learning environment and career motivation of gerontological services for undergraduates,whether they had served as student leaders,whether they had experience in caring for the older people,and whether they had participated in career counseling related to gerontological services were the predictors of the trajectory subgroup of undergraduates’ gerontological services career adaptability(all P<0.05).Compared to the Rapid growth group,the undergraduates with higher scores in the geriatric servicing practice learning environment were more likely to be in the Stable development group(OR=1.06,P=0.001)and Declining group(OR=1.05,P=0.031).Compared to the Rapid growth group,the undergraduates with higher score of career motivation of gerontological services were more likely to appear in the Declining group(OR=1.07,P=0.041).Compared to the Rapid growth group,the undergraduates who had served as student leaders were more likely to appear in the Stable development group than those who had not(OR=5.48,P<0.001).Compared to the Stable development group,undergraduates with experience in caring for older people were more likely to appear in the Declining group than those without care experience(OR=3.17,P=0.018),and students who had participated in career counseling related to gerontological services were more likely to appear in the Declining group than those who had not(OR=2.57,P=0.034).Conclusions:1.The gerontological services career adaptability of undergraduates shows a linear growth trend over time,and there are inter-individual differences in the initial level and growth rate,with the higher the initial level of career adaptability,the slower the growth trend.2.There are three heterogenous subgroups in the trajectory of undergraduates’gerontological services career adaptability:Rapid growth group,Stable development group,and Declining group.Most of the undergraduates belong to the Stable development group,and some of them have a rapid increase or decrease in their gerontological services career adaptability,and mainly appears in the first 6 months of the graduation year.3.For undergraduates,the level of geriatric servicing practice learning environment,career motivation of gerontological services,whether they have served as student leaders,whether they have experience in caring for the older people,and whether they have participated in career counseling related to gerontological services were the predictors of the trajectory subgroup of undergraduates’ gerontological services career adaptability.4.Educators need to pay timely attention to and evaluate the development and change of gerontological services career adaptability in undergraduates,especially in the first 6 months of their graduation year.At the same time,it is necessary to provide undergraduates with a favorable practice and learning environment and to pay close attention to their career motivation of gerontological services,and encourage them to serve as student leaders,participate in practical activities and career counseling related to gerontological services,so as to improve the gerontological services career adaptability of undergraduates. |
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