코로나19로 인한 두려움과 우울감이 관광 전공 재학생의 진로결정자기효능감에 미치는 영향: 행복추구의 조절효과

The purpose of this study was to comprehensively investigate: 1) the impact of negative emotions such as fear and depression caused by COVID-19 on career decision-making self-efficacy of college students majoring in tourism; and 2) the causal relationship between each factor in this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic situation. In addition, this study attempted to verify a moderating effect of happiness orientation in between depression and career decision-making self-efficacy. To achieve the research objective, first, a conceptual model was newly proposed based on a literature review. Second, the model was analyzed with structural equation modeling by AMOS using 245 valid data, collected from current students majoring in tourism in the Seoul capital area of South Korea. Third, the results of the analysis showed that fear of COVID-19 had a positive effect on depression. Depression from COVID-19 had a negative effect on career decision-making self-efficacy. Depression from COVID-19 had a full mediation effect in the relationship between fear and career decision-making self-efficacy. Orientation to happiness had a moderating effect in the relationship between depression and career decision-making self-efficacy. Through these findings, the negative influence of negative emotions such as fear and depression on career decision-making self-efficacy as well as the causal relationship between fear and depression of COVID-19 was proved. In addition, it was confirmed that depression had a more negative influence on career decision-making self-efficacy in the low effort group compared to the high effort group in pursuing one’s own happiness in everyday life. Finally, theoretical contributions and practical implications were provided.