Exploring the impact of gender and athletic involvement on career adaptability in Physical Education students

Introduction: Career adaptability plays a crucial role in preparing students for the workforce, but few studies have explored how gender and athletic status influence career adaptability, particularly in Physical Education programs. Objective: This study investigates the relationship between gender, athletic status, and career adaptability among students in the Physical Education program at Universitas PGRI Palembang. Methodology: A total of 687 students (460 male, 227 female) participated in the study, divided into athletes (232) and non-athletes (455). The Career Adaptability Scale (CAAS), consisting of 24 items, was used to assess four dimensions: Concern, Control, Curiosity, and Confidence. Data were analyzed using SPSS and an Independent Samples T-test. Results: No significant differences were found in career adaptability scores based on gender (male vs. female) or athletic status (athletes vs. non-athletes). Both groups showed similar scores across the four dimensions. Discussion: These results suggest that career adaptability is influenced more by individual traits than by gender or athletic status. Therefore, career development programs should focus on universal skills applicable to all students. Conclusions: The study indicates that career adaptability is a universal skill not significantly affected by gender or athletic involvement, highlighting the importance of developing key competencies such as self-awareness and goal-setting across all students.