Amotivation, career engagement, and the moderating role of career adaptability of youth not in education, employment, or training

NEET youth who are not in education, employment, or training are characterized by heterogeneity, dynamic experience, and different levels of vulnerability. This study examined the impact of amotivation and career adaptability on NEET youth’s career engagement and the moderating role of career adaptability in the relationship between amotivation and career engagement. A total of 2,677 valid pre-intervention questionnaires were collected from NEET youth participants aged 15-21 all over Hong Kong. The findings showed that amotivation had a negative association with career engagement, whereas career adaptability had a positive association with career engagement. We also identified an interaction effect between career adaptability and amotivation on career engagement among NEET youth. Our results revealed that a higher level of career adaptability and its four dimensions (i.e. concern, control, curiosity, and confidence) changed the direction of association between amotivation and career engagement of NEET youth. Implications for developing career support services to NEET youth were discussed. Copyright © 2020 by Asia Pacific Career Development Journal.