TY  - EJOU
AU  - Chen, Huaruo 
AU  - Peng, Zhentao 
AU  - Wang, Gefan 
AU  - Zhang, Yanyan 
AU  - Shangguan, Chenyu 
AU  - Qiu, Hancai 
AU  - Ma, Hui 
AU  - Liu, Ruihan 
AU  - Liu, Feng 
AU  - Song, Wanru 

TI  - Career maturity, self-efficacy and mental health among college students: Group counseling intervention efficacy
T2  - Journal of Psychology in Africa

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 1815-5626

AB  - 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.
KW  - College students; career maturity; mental health; self-efficacy; experimental intervention

DO  - 10.32604/jpa.2026.075180