The association of career learning experiences on career exploration: the mediating role of future decent work perception among Chinese teacher education undergraduates

This article examines the intricate relationship between career learning experiences (CLE) and career exploration, with a particular emphasis on the mediating role of future decent work perception (FDWP) among undergraduates. The study is grounded in the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and the Psychology of Working Theory (PWT), providing a robust framework for understanding how various dimensions of CLE—including mastery experiences, vicarious learning, verbal persuasion, and emotional arousal—influence career exploration behaviors. The research reveals that positive career learning experiences significantly enhance career exploration, while negative emotions indirectly affect career exploration through their impact on FDWP. The article also highlights the importance of addressing negative emotions and fostering positive perceptions of future work conditions to encourage proactive career exploration. By integrating these findings, the study offers valuable insights into the career development processes, suggesting that educational interventions should focus on enhancing CLE and promoting optimistic outcome expectations to motivate undergraduates in their career exploration efforts.