The association of senior nursing students' economic resources, work volition and career adaptability with their future decent work securement: A psychology of working perspective

Abstract

Aim

To determine the relationship between economic resources (household income), work volition and career adaptability and the perception of future decent work securement of senior nursing students based on the Psychology of Working Theory.

Background

Future decent work securement is essential for young people to successfully enter to working life after graduation. Therefore, identifying factors that affect future decent work can help make nursing a desirable career option.

Design

Cross-sectional and correlational design.

Methods

This study was performed between May and June 2022 in three public universities in Turkey. The sample consisted of the senior students in the nursing undergraduate programs (n = 255). The data were collected using the Student Information Form, the Work Volition Scale-Student Version, the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-Short Form and the Perceived Future Decent Work Securement Scale. Descriptive tests and Pearson's correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. The hypothesis model was tested using path analysis.

Results

This study found significant positive correlations between household income, work volition, career adaptability and future decent work securement. The direct effects of household income on work volition, work volition on career adaptability and future decent work securement were also significant. However, there was no significant effect of career adaptability on future decent work securement. In addition, work volition was found to have an indirect effect on the relationship between household income and career adaptability and future decent work securement.

Conclusions

This study, where the Psychology of Working Theory was tested on a sample of nursing students, drew attention to the importance of work volition in developing the perception of future decent work securement. Career adaptability and decent work perception can be improved through work volition of the students.