Longitudinal Relationship Between Vocational Self‐Concept Clarity and Proactive Career Behaviors of Higher Vocational Students: The Role of Career Outcome Expectations and Career Barriers Perception

Vocational self-concept clarity directly and indirectly drives proactive career behaviors in higher vocational students through career outcome expectations, validating Social Cognitive Career Theory. Career barriers perception weakens expectation-behavior links, while career outcome expectations motivate proactive behaviors, their impact is significantly attenuated by perceived career barriers. Vocational systems must prioritize clarifying self-concepts, fostering realistic expectations, and addressing structural barriers.