The impact of career expectation on employment anxiety of art students in higher vocational colleges during the COVID-19: A chain mediating role of social support and psychological capital

OBJECTIVE: In the process of college students’ employment, psychological capital, and social support play a vital role. METHODS: This study examined the relationship between career expectation and employment anxiety of Chinese vocational art college students (N = 634). Participants completed the Career Expectation Scale (CES), Employment Anxiety Scale (EAS), Psychological Capital Scale (PCS), and Social Support Scale (SSS). RESULTS: (1) Vocational art students’ career expectation has a positive predictive effect on employment anxiety, social support, and psychological capital; Social support and psychological capital have negative predictive effects on employment anxiety. (2) Social support and psychological capital play a significant chain intermediary role between career expectation and employment anxiety, and there is a masking effect. CONCLUSION: These results are of guiding significance to the improvement of the employment quality of art students in higher vocational colleges and the employment consulting work in colleges.