Career maturity, self-efficacy and mental health among college students: Group counseling intervention efficacy

Huaruo Chen^1,#, Zhentao Peng^1,#, Gefan Wang^1,#, Yanyan Zhang¹, Chenyu Shangguan¹, Hancai Qiu¹, Hui Ma¹, Ruihan Liu², Feng Liu¹, Wanru Song^1,*
1 College of Education Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China
2 School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, WI, USA
* Corresponding Author: Wanru Song. Email: email
# These authors contributed equally to this work

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2026.075180

Received 27 October 2025; Accepted 09 May 2026; Published online 18 June 2026

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Abstract

This study explored the efficacy of a career group counseling intervention for students with low career maturity for their improved career maturity, self-efficacy, and mental health. Participants included two groups: 548 Chinese college students survey study (female = 31.93%, mean age = 20.836, SD = 1.215 years), and 30 college students with low career maturity for the intervention study (female = 50.00%) selected from the first group. The participants completed surveys on career maturity, self-efficacy, and mental health. Results from Hayes regression-based PROCESS with Amos 26.0 for structural equation modeling revealed that career maturity is associated with high self-efficacy, mental health, and self-efficacy. The intervention group results indicated efficacy of the group counselling after 6 weeks of (1 h/week), and significantly higher post-test scores in career maturity, self-efficacy, and mental compared to random case control group from the total study participants. These findings provide the evidence for theory based on group counseling applying a social cognitive career theory–driven modular intervention approach that integrates career maturity development, self-efficacy enhancement, and mental health promotion within a structured six-week group program. The current study validates the applicability of social cognitive career theory in explaining how career maturity promotes mental health through self-efficacy, thereby strengthening theoretical pathways linking career development to psychological well-being. Based on these findings, a structured career group counseling approach that targets career concern, curiosity, and confidence can effectively improve college students’ career maturity, self-efficacy, and mental health.