# Structural relationships among academic self-efficacy, academic performance, and career preparation behavior: the roles of value and cost as mediating variables

## TL;DR

This study explores how academic self-efficacy affects college students' performance and career preparation through the influence of perceived value and cost.

## Contribution

The study introduces a serial mediation model showing how self-efficacy impacts outcomes via value and cost.

## Key findings

- Higher self-efficacy increases perceived value and lowers perceived cost.
- This leads to improved academic performance and career preparation behavior.
- The model shows a good fit with the data from 1,182 undergraduates.

## Abstract

This study examined how academic self-efficacy influences college students' academic performance and career preparation behavior, with value and cost acting as serial mediators.

Based on social cognitive theory and expectancy-value theory, structural equation modeling was performed using data from 1,182 undergraduates at Chinese private universities.

Results showed that self-efficacy directly and indirectly predicted both outcomes. A value-to-cost serial mediation pathway was confirmed, indicating that higher self-efficacy increased value, lowered cost, and subsequently improved GPA and career preparation behavior. The model demonstrated a good fit.

The findings emphasize the importance of strengthening value while reducing costs, and provide both theoretical insights and practical strategies for improving academic and career outcomes in higher education.