E-8: THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL CAREER AND PARENTAL SUPPORT IN SHAPING LIFE SATISFACTION AND MENTAL WELL-BEING AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between educational career choices, Parental support, life satisfaction, and mental well-being among university students. Using a correlational design and quantitative technique, the research aims to investigate how educational career decisions and family support affect students' overall happiness and mental health. A total of 150 undergraduate students participated in the study, completing questionnaires on the educational career scale, perceived parental support scale, life satisfaction scale, and mental well-being scale. The study utilized numerous instruments, including the RIASEC Inventory Scale for career evaluation, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), and the Perceived Parental Support Scale (PPSS). The results demonstrated a substantial positive association between educational career and mental well-being, indicating that professional choices aligned with personal aptitudes positively benefit students' mental health. Parental support was also found to be positively connected to life satisfaction, underlining the critical importance of parental involvement in the emotional and academic well-being of students. The study also studied the mediation impact of parental support, finding it influences the association between mental well-being and life satisfaction, with both direct and indirect effects identified.  The study's findings complement to current literature by underlining the importance of aligned educational career choices and strong family support in boosting life satisfaction and mental well-being among university students. These insights have significance for counseling programs, interventions concentrating on parent-child relationships, and professional development activities. Future studies should include bigger and more diverse sample sizes and explore the influence of cultural variances and other psychological factors on these connections.