Self-consistency and self-determination perspectives of career value changes: A cross-lagged panel study among Chinese university students

Drawing upon value change and self-determination theories, a cross-lagged panel survey study was conducted to examine the dynamic changes among different career value dimensions (i.e., external compensation, intrinsic fulfillment, and work-life balance values), as well as the reciprocal relations between career values and professional ability development (PAD, the development of career-related knowledge, skills, ability, and experience). Results from a two-wave survey study across 1 year among 2446 Chinese university students show that students undergo significant value changes across 1 year with the test-retest correlations of the value dimensions ranging from 0.34 to 0.41. While value dimensions and PAD generally have positive concurrent correlations, the cross-lagged analyses show that external compensation value (T1) negatively predicts intrinsic fulfillment value (T2), work-life balance value (T2), and PAD (T2); work-life balance value (T1) negatively predicts intrinsic fulfillment value (T2); PAD (T1) positively predicts work-life balance value (T2). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.