대학생의 전공선택 내재적･외재적 동기와 진로결정의 관계에서 전공만족도의 매개효과

The Mediating Effect of Major Satisfaction on the Relationship Between Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation for Major Selection and Career Decision in University Students

연구목적: 본 연구는 대학생의 전공선택 내재적‧외재적 동기, 전공만족도, 진로결정이 개인의 특성에 따라 차이가 있는지 분석하고 전공선택 내재적‧외재적 동기와 진로결정의 관계에서 전공만족도의 매개효과를 살펴보고 이를 통해 시사점을 도출하고자 한다. 연구방법: 서울 소재 D대학교 2024학년 신입생 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하였고 이 중에서 유효한 735명의 응답결과만을 분석하였다. 변인에 대한 기초통계 및 학생의 특성에 따른 차이분석(t-test), 전공선택 내재적‧외재적 동기, 전공만족도, 진로결정에 미치는 영향에 대해서는 구조방정식 모형(SEA)으로 분석하였다. 또한 전공만족도의 매개효과를 검증하기 위해 직접효과, 간접효과, 총효과를 분석하고 검증하였다. 연구결과: 전공선택 내재적‧외재적 동기, 전공만족도, 진로결정을 학생의 특성에 따라 분석한 결과, 인문과 자연계열 모두 내재적동기가 높고 전공만족도와 진로결정은 자연계열이 높게, 모집단위는 학부제가 전공선택 외재적 동기와 전공만족도, 학과(전공)제는 전공선택 외재적 동기와 진로결정에서 높게, 입학전형은 수시가 모든 변인에서 높게, 성별은 남학생이 높게 나타났다. 전공선택 내재적 동기와 진로결정 간의 관계에서 전공만족도를 매개변인으로 결과가 통계적으로 유의하였지만 전공선택 외재적 동기는 유의미하지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 논의 및 결론: 대학생들이 전공선택을 할 경우 내재적‧외재적 동기를 반영하여 진로를 결정할 수 있도록 대학 및 사회차원에서의 지원 체제 구축과 관련하여 후속연구를 통해 다루어야할 과제를 제시하였다.

Purpose: TThis study aims to analyze whether university students' intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for major selection, major satisfaction, and career decision-making differ according to individual characteristics. Additionally, it examines the mediating effect of major satisfaction between motivations for major selection and career decision-making, with the goal of deriving meaningful implications. Method: A survey was conducted with freshmen enrolled at D University in Seoul in 2024, and only valid responses from 735 participants were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to examine differences based on student characteristics. Additionally, the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for major selection, major satisfaction, and career decision-making were analyzed using a Structural Equation Model (SEM). Furthermore, the mediating effect of major satisfaction was tested by analyzing direct, indirect, and total effects. Results: The analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for major selection, major satisfaction, and career decision-making based on student characteristics showed that both humanities and natural sciences students had high levels of intrinsic motivation. However, natural sciences students demonstrated higher levels of major satisfaction and career decision-making. Regarding admission units, students in the faculty system showed higher levels of extrinsic motivation for major selection and major satisfaction, while those in the department (major) system had higher extrinsic motivation for major selection and career decision-making. In terms of admission type, students admitted through the early admission process scored higher across all variables, and male students showed higher scores than female students. The mediating effect of major satisfaction in the relationship between intrinsic motivation for major selection and career decision-making was statistically significant, whereas the mediating effect for extrinsic motivation was not significant. Conclusion: Based on these results, the study suggests the need for the establishment of support systems at both university and societal levels to enable university students to make career decisions by considering both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations when selecting their majors. It also outlines areas to be addressed in future research to enhance educational practices and student support in this area. Discussion and Conclusion: This study suggests directions for future research on the establishment of institutional and societal support systems that enable university students to make career decisions by considering both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations when selecting their majors.