The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Career Decision-Making Difficulties: Mediation Role of Career Adaptability of University Students

Rapid changes in the global marketplace and invisible pressures have made career decision-making challenging for students. This article explores the relationship between emotional intelligence and career decision difficulties, as well as the mediating role of career adaptability, in a cross-sectional study conducted among students. A total of 265 students from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Mage = 19.99; SD = 1.46) were randomly selected and participated through an online questionnaire. The study employed the Career Decision-making Difficulties Questionnaire, which includes 34 questions to assess career decision-making difficulties; the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, comprising 16 items to measure emotional intelligence; and the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale - Short Form with 12 items to evaluate career adaptability. The findings reveal two primary outcomes: (1) emotional intelligence significantly negatively impacts career decision difficulties (effect = -0.15, p < .05, 95% CI = [-0.29, -0.01]), and (2) career adaptability significantly mediates this relationship (effect = -0.11, 95% CI = [-0.20, -0.02]). These results suggest that enhancing emotional intelligence and career adaptability may facilitate improved career decision-making among students.