NAVIGATING FUTURE PATHWAYS: REPERCUSSIONS OF EXPERIENTIAL TEACHING ON EMPLOYMENT ANXIETY IN CAREER PLANNING COURSES

Li-Wei Wei, Yu Fu

Abstract


This study investigates the impact of experiential teaching on employment anxiety among students in career planning courses. Addressing the increasing issue of workplace phobia, characterized by severe anxiety in professional contexts, this research highlights the shortcomings of traditional educational strategies in alleviating such anxieties, particularly among recent graduates in a competitive job market. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, the study evaluates the effectiveness of experiential teaching methods by comparing an experimental group exposed to these methods with a control group receiving conventional instruction. The research encompasses 120 medical laboratory technology students, employing the Employment Anxiety Diagnostic Scale to ensure psychometric robustness. Results demonstrate a significant reduction in employment anxiety and an enhancement in career planning skills within the experimental group, illustrating the transformative potential of experiential learning. Additionally, the findings reveal demographic disparities, with greater benefits observed among female students and those lacking prior medical background or part-time work experience. This study advocates for the integration of experiential teaching in higher education curricula to better equip students for the workforce, addressing both educational and psychological aspects of career readiness. Recommendations for broader demographic inclusion and methodological improvements in future research are provided to enhance the generalizability and depth of insights into experiential teaching's effectiveness in mitigating employment anxiety.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


experiential teaching; employment anxiety; career planning courses, Chinese medical undergraduates

Full Text:

PDF

References


Beard, C. (2022). The holistic experiential learning design model (HELM). Experiential Learning Design, 58-68. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003030867-3

Bekesiene, S., Hoskova-Mayerova, S., & Smaliukiene, R. (2024). Emotional resilience for wellbeing and employability: The role of learning and training. Frontiers Media SA.

Benson, K. J. (2017). Relax more stress less: A complete guide to eliminate anxiety at workplace. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

Berent, J., & Lemley, A. (2010). Work makes me nervous: Overcome anxiety and build the confidence to succeed. John Wiley & Sons.

Bhuyan, D. (2015). Complete guide to career planning. V&S Publishers.

Bolo, C., Sareen, J., Patten, S., Schmitz, N., Currie, S., & Wang, J. (2013). Receiving workplace mental health accommodations and the outcome of mental disorders in employees with a depressive and/or anxiety disorder. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 55(11), 1293-1299. https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0b013e31829fd065

Chan, C. (2018). The relationship among social support, career self-efficacy, career exploration, and career choices of Taiwanese college athletes. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 22, 105-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2017.09.004

Changjun, Y. (2014). A comparative study of graduate employment surveys: 2003–2011. Chinese Education & Society, 47(6), 12-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/10611932.2014.994906

Chasanah, A. M., & Salim, R. M. (2019). Parental support, career exploration, and career decision-making self-efficacy in junior high school students. ANIMA Indonesian Psychological Journal, 34(4), 211-221. https://doi.org/10.24123/aipj.v34i4.2581

Chen, L., & Zeng, S. (2021). The relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and employment anxiety of graduates during COVID-19: The moderating role of career planning. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.694785

Choi, H.j., & Kim, J.S. (2018). Comparison between nursing student employment preparation behavior and anxiety. Journal of Employment and Career, 8(3), 21-33. https://doi.org/10.35273/jec.2018.8.3.002

Dewey, J. (1975). Moral principles in education. SIU Press.

Dewey, J. (2023). John Dewey: The philosophy of education: Democracy & education in USA, moral principles in education, health and sex in higher education, the child and the curriculum. DigiCat.

Ding, H. (2023). Career planning curriculum reform integrating psychology on employment anxiety disorder of college students. CNS Spectrums, 28(S2), S85-S85. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1092852923004650

Dobson, C., & Schmidt, G. (2015). Traditional carrier approaches to mental health. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 34(2), 23-35. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2015-018

Erdogan, F. (2019). Effect of cooperative learning supported by reflective thinking activities on students’ critical thinking skills. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 19(80), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.14689/ejer.2019.80.5

Even, A., & Christiansen, B. (2023). Enhancing employee engagement and productivity in the post-pandemic multigenerational workforce. IGI Global.

Fear, R. M. (2018). The symptoms of anxiety and fear. Systematic Desensitisation for Panic and Phobia, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429480645-1

Finklea, J. T., & Osborn, D. S. (2019). Understanding the relationship between commitment anxiety and career tension. Journal of Employment Counseling, 56(3), 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1002/joec.12126

Gray, M., Kim, M., & Lee, S. (2020). Young adults and employment planning during a pandemic (COVID-19): Decision-making self-efficacy as a mediator between emotional intelligence and career indecision. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/dnhgr

Groves, O., Austin, K., Lamanna, J., & O’Shea, S. (2022). Introduction to career development learning and sustainability goals: Considerations for research and practice. Career Development Learning and Sustainability Goals, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6637-8_1

Hackey, R. (2023). Fostering resilience in experiential learning courses. Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 6(1), 13-23. https://doi.org/10.46787/elthe.v6i1.3592

Han, Y., & Ji, X. (2022). Postmonolingual transnational Chinese education. Springer Nature.

Hoidn, S. (2016). Multiple ethnographic case study research of student-centered learning environments in higher education classrooms. Student-Centered Learning Environments in Higher Education Classrooms, 169-220. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94941-0_4

Hoidn, S., & Klemenčič, M. (2020). The Routledge international handbook of student-centered learning and teaching in higher education. Routledge.

Hoidn, S., & Reusser, K. (2020). Foundations of student-centered learning and teaching. The Routledge International Handbook of Student-Centered Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 17-46. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429259371-3

James, N. (2022). Learning analytics to support experiential learning. Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 3(3), 8. https://doi.org/10.46787/elthe.v3i3.3420

Jonck, P., & Swanepoel, E. (2015). Demographic variables influencing perceived effectiveness of career guidance during life orientation. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s2p297

Jones‐Rincon, A., & Howard, K. J. (2018). Anxiety in the workplace: A comprehensive occupational health evaluation of anxiety disorder in public school teachers. Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/jabr.12133

Joshi, G. (2022). Green employability: Re-shaping individual career perspective. Sustainable Development Goals Series, 7-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06558-3_2

Junianti, E., & Rony, Z. T. (2023). Implementation employee well-being: Analysis leadership agility, workload analysis, organizational culture, and career adaptability. International Journal of Business and Applied Economics, 2(4), 557-568. https://doi.org/10.55927/ijbae.v2i4.5192

"Kaleidoscope career model: Impact of personal, family, organizational and social variables". (2023). Psychological Applications and Trends 2023. https://doi.org/10.36315/2023inpact085

Kimmel, R. J., Roy-Byrne, P. P., & Cowley, D. S. (2015). Pharmacological treatments for panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, and social anxiety disorder. Oxford Clinical Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1093/med:psych/9780199342211.003.0015

Kirkebæk, M. J., Du, X., & Jensen, A. A. (2013). Teaching and learning culture: Negotiating the context. Springer Science & Business Media.

Kolb, A. Y., & Kolb, D. A. (2022). Experiential learning theory as a guide for experiential educators in higher education. Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 1(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.46787/elthe.v1i1.3362

Koustas, S. N., & Salehi, E. S. (2022). Entrepreneurship education and experiential learning in higher education. Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 4(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.46787/elthe.v4i1.3429

Lee, C., & Sung, W. (2023). A study on the relationship between pre-service early childhood teachers’ motivation for choosing a teaching career, career resilience: Mediating effect of career decision self-efficacy. Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association, 17(3), 97-114. https://doi.org/10.17206/apjrece.2023.17.3.97

Lee, T. H. (2018). Education in traditional China: A history. BRILL.

Lim, Y., & Lee, O. (2019). Social cognitive factors as mediators between gender role personality and career exploration. Journal of Career Development, 48(4), 325-337. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845319852754

Ma, Y., Chen, S., & Ruangkanjanases, A. (2020). Perceived organizational support and career adaptability as predictors of self and environmental-career exploration: An empirical investigation in China. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202007.0592.v1

Macklin, J. (2019). Curanderismo and Espiritismo: Complementary approaches to traditional mental health services. The Chicano Experience, 207-226. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429051197-10

Maguth, B., & Hilburn, J. (2015). The state of global education: Learning with the world and its people. Routledge.

Malik, N., & Hussain, I. (2020). Effects of demographic variables on career choice of University students. Global Educational Studies Review, V(III), 83-90. https://doi.org/10.31703/gesr.2020(v-iii).09

McCabe, R. E., Capobianco, L., & Antony, M. M. (2023). Anxiety and fear-related disorders: Social anxiety disorder and specific phobia. Tasman’s Psychiatry, 1-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42825-9_61-1

McCulloch, G., & Crook, D. (2013). The Routledge international encyclopedia of education. Routledge.

Norris, S. E. (2021). The development of the entrepreneurial mindset, critical thinking skills, and critical reflective practices through experiential learning activities in graduate business school. Research Anthology on Developing Critical Thinking Skills in Students, 210-231. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-3022-1.ch013

Orakcı, Ş. (2021). Exploring the relationships between cognitive flexibility, learner autonomy, and reflective thinking. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 41, 100838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2021.100838

Peng, H., & Shih, Y. (2022). Efficacy of flipping the college career planning course -- A finance career planning course. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 14(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijps.v14n1p60

Pesch, K. M., Larson, L. M., & Seipel, M. T. (2017). Career decision-making within the college social microcosm. Journal of Career Assessment, 26(2), 291-307. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072717692767

Peterson, C. (2018). Stress at work: A sociological perspective. Routledge.

Pham, M., Lam, B. Q., & Tuan Ngoc Bui, A. (2024). Career exploration and its influence on the relationship between self-efficacy and career choice: The moderating role of social support. Heliyon, 10(11), e31808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31808

Rogers, C. R., & Freiberg, H. J. (1994). Freedom to learn. Prentice Hall.

Sawitri, D. R., Creed, P. A., & Perdhana, M. S. (2020). The discrepancies between individual-set and parent-set career goals scale: Development and initial validation. Journal of Career Development, 48(5), 654-669. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845320901795

Sirois, F. M. (2016). Introduction: Conceptualizing the relations of procrastination to health and well-being. Procrastination, Health, and Well-Being, 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-802862-9.00001-3

Small, E., & Varker, F. (2023). Critical experiential education: Re-imagining teaching and learning. Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 6(1), 86-92. https://doi.org/10.46787/elthe.v6i1.3568

Smith, T. E., & Knapp, C. E. (2011). Sourcebook of experiential education: Key thinkers and their contributions. Routledge.

So, Y.J., & Park, J.S. (2016). The influence of University students’ job-seeking stress on career maturity in university adjustment: Focusing on the mediating effect of job-seeking anxiety. Journal of Employment and Career, 6(4), 23-44. https://doi.org/10.35273/jec.2016.6.4.002

Srivastava, D., & Dangwal, P. (2023). Career adaptability, self-esteem, mental well-being among working professionals with caregiving responsibilities: Ex-post facto research. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 4(5), 184-193. https://doi.org/10.55248/gengpi.234.5.39049

Tan, C. (2016). Educational policy borrowing in China: Looking west or looking east? Routledge.

Tiessen, R., & Huish, R. (2014). Globetrotting or global citizenship?: Perils and potential of international experiential learning. University of Toronto Press.

Toetenel, L., & Rienties, B. (2020). The virtuous circle of learning design and learning analytics to develop student-centered online education. The Routledge International Handbook of Student-Centered Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 361-375. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429259371-26

Vieira, D. A., & Mei, V. (2022). Sources of transition-to-work self-efficacy: Career exploration and social support. Psychological Applications and Trends. https://doi.org/10.36315/2022inpact025

Wei, L.W. (2023). Self-Investigation into Repercussion of Perfectionist Behavior on Academic Anxiety and Flexibility amongst Chinese postgraduates. European Journal of Education Studies, 10(12). pp211-231. ISSN-2501-1111. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Wei%2c+Li-Wei&id=ED639256

Wei, L.W., & Chang, C.C. (2022). A Self-Report on the Factors Determining the Stress Levels of Chinese Graduate Students Studying Abroad in Thailand. Journal of China ASEAN Studies (JCAS). Vol.2 No.2. pp.35-46. Print ISSN: 2730-4205 Online ISSN: 2730-4256. https://so07.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JCAS/article /view/1564

Wei, L.W, Zhao, F., Huang. X.C., Li, M.H., (2019). An Investigation into the Determinant Causes of Stress and Stress Level of Chinese College Students in Bangkok Thailand, presented at the 1st China-ASEAN International Conference 2019: Insight to Chinese and ASEAN’s Experience and Adaptation. April 1st, 2019. pp.130-135. http://dx.doi.org/10.6947/caicictbs.201904.0013

West, J. P. (2017). Career planning, development, and management: An annotated bibliography. Routledge.

Williams, C., & Reitman, A. (2013). Career moves: Be strategic about your future (Revised and enhanced edition). Association for Talent Development.

Winterbottom, C., Richard, D. F., & Nicholson, J. (2020). Student-centered learning. The Routledge International Handbook of Student-Centered Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 290-306. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429259371-21

Yang, W. (2023). The intervention of Chaihu Hehuan Jieyu Tang combined with career planning guidance on employment anxiety patients of college students. CNS Spectrums, 28(S2), S49-S49. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1092852923003759

Yang, X., Feng, Y., Meng, Y., & Qiu, Y. (2019). Career adaptability, work engagement, and employee well-being among Chinese employees: The role of Guanxi. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01029

Yu, J. (2022). Exploration on curriculum system construction of ideological and political education integrating into college students' career planning. Asia Social Science Academy, 8(2), 145-156. https://doi.org/10.51600/jass.2022.8.2.147

Yujie, W., Yali, L., Zebing, L., Chunbing, X., Xiaoyong, C., & Cheng, J. (2017). Differences in household registration and college student employment—An empirical study based on an employment survey of college graduates. Chinese Education & Society, 50(2), 97-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/10611932.2017.1326777

Zhang, H., & Huang, H. (2018). Decision-making self-efficacy mediates the peer support–career exploration relationship. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 46(3), 485-498. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.6410

Zheng, S., Wu, G., Zhao, J., & Chen, W. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 epidemic anxiety on college students' employment confidence and employment situation perception in China. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.980634




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v11i8.5421

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Li-Wei Wei, Yu Fu

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2015-2023. European Journal of Education Studies (ISSN 2501 - 1111) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All authors who send their manuscripts to this journal and whose articles are published on this journal retain full copyright of their articles. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).