From self and career perceptions to life satisfaction: A sequential mediation approach to general self-efficacy, future work self, career anxiety, and life satisfaction in the emerging workforce

Abstract General self-efficacy (GSE) and life satisfaction (LS) are crucial to overall well-being, especially for young adults, for whom future envisioning and employment concerns significantly impact their vocational paths. Given the limited research on how future work self (FWS) and career anxiety (CA) function as mediators in this relationship, this study examines the connections between GSE, FWS, CA, and LS. The study sample consists of 532 undergraduate students from Türkiye. Using structural equation modeling, the results show that GSE, FWS, CA, and LS are significantly related, with the relationship between GSE and LS being sequentially mediated by FWS and CA.