The Effects of Social Support on Work Values, Major Commitment, and Career Preparation Behavior among Culinary Specialized High School Students

This study examines how social support influences vocational values, major commitment, and career preparation behaviors among specialized high school students majoring in culinary arts, and explores the moderating role of career decision-making self-efficacy. Data were collected through a survey of culinary arts students and analyzed using structural equation modeling to verify the proposed hypotheses. The results show that social support positively affects both intrinsic and extrinsic vocational values, which in turn significantly influence major commitment and career preparation behaviors. Additionally, career decision-making self-efficacy moderates the relationship between social support and extrinsic vocational values, indicating a weakening effect at higher efficacy levels. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening social support systems within educational environments and tailoring career guidance based on students’ vocational orientations. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the interconnected effects of social support, vocational values, and career-related behaviors, offering practical insights for effective career education and counseling programs in specialized high schools.