Unveiling the Complexity of Chinese Nonengaged Youths' Career-Related Competencies through Latent Class Analysis: Examining Their Profiles, Mental Health, and Social Well-Being
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| Title: | Unveiling the Complexity of Chinese Nonengaged Youths' Career-Related Competencies through Latent Class Analysis: Examining Their Profiles, Mental Health, and Social Well-Being |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Miao Wang (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Adolescence. 2026 98(2):617-631. |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 15 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Job Skills, Education Work Relationship, Mental Health, Well Being, Youth, Individual Characteristics |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| DOI: | 10.1002/jad.70086 |
| ISSN: | 0140-1971 1095-9254 |
| Abstract: | Background: Career-related competencies (CLCs) are essential for nonengaged youths (NEYs) to achieve a successful school-to-work transition. However, there is limited research identifying the characteristics of distinct subgroups based on CLCs. Objective: This study aimed to classify patterns of NEYs based on CLCs and to examine differences in demographic characteristics, mental health (i.e., depression and anxiety), and social well-being (i.e., civic engagement, social contribution, and social integration) among the classes identified. Methods: This study involved 249 NEYs in China (M[subscript age] = 24.65). Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was performed using Mplus to classify CLCs patterns. t-tests and chi-square tests were used to examine differences in demographic characteristics, mental health, and social well-being between subgroups. Results: LCA results indicated that NEYs were grouped into three subgroups: the high CLCs group, the middle CLCs group, and the low CLCs group. The low CLCs group exhibited the lowest performance across all CLC dimensions, the highest prevalence of mental health issues, and the most challenges in social well-being. Conclusions: The findings highlighted the significance of CLCs for the mental health and social well-being of NEYs during their school-to-work transition. Despite limitations, this study contributed to understanding the subtypes of NEYs regarding CLCs and offered insights for intervention services aimed at enhancing NEYs' CLCs. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1496576 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Background: Career-related competencies (CLCs) are essential for nonengaged youths (NEYs) to achieve a successful school-to-work transition. However, there is limited research identifying the characteristics of distinct subgroups based on CLCs. Objective: This study aimed to classify patterns of NEYs based on CLCs and to examine differences in demographic characteristics, mental health (i.e., depression and anxiety), and social well-being (i.e., civic engagement, social contribution, and social integration) among the classes identified. Methods: This study involved 249 NEYs in China (M[subscript age] = 24.65). Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was performed using Mplus to classify CLCs patterns. t-tests and chi-square tests were used to examine differences in demographic characteristics, mental health, and social well-being between subgroups. Results: LCA results indicated that NEYs were grouped into three subgroups: the high CLCs group, the middle CLCs group, and the low CLCs group. The low CLCs group exhibited the lowest performance across all CLC dimensions, the highest prevalence of mental health issues, and the most challenges in social well-being. Conclusions: The findings highlighted the significance of CLCs for the mental health and social well-being of NEYs during their school-to-work transition. Despite limitations, this study contributed to understanding the subtypes of NEYs regarding CLCs and offered insights for intervention services aimed at enhancing NEYs' CLCs. |
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| ISSN: | 0140-1971 1095-9254 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/jad.70086 |
