How social support shapes college students' intention to change majors
The mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating effect of self-regulation skills
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22164173 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Wenxuan Chen (0000-0002-3803-2847, Shandong Normal University), Chen Wenxuan (Shandong Normal University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-30 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2504-284X • E-ISSN: 2504-284X |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/feduc.2026.1800671 |
| OpenAlex | W7160159971 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 30 |
Understanding why college students consider changing majors is critical for improving academic fit and supporting career development in higher education. Drawing on a mixed-methods design, this study examines how social support shapes students' intention to change majors through a moderated mediation framework. Quantitative data were collected through a large-scale questionnaire survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling, while qualitative interviews were conducted to complement and contextualize the quantitative findings. Self-efficacy was examined as a mediating mechanism linking social support to students' intention to change majors, and self-regulation skills were tested as a moderating factor in this process. The results indicate that social support has a significant effect on students' intention to change majors. Specifically, self-efficacy partially mediates the relationship between social support and major-change intention, and self-regulation skills strengthen the positive effect of social support on self-efficacy. These findings advance understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying students’ major-change intentions and offer practical implications for institutional support policies and interventions aimed at enhancing major fit and promoting students' long-term career development
Mediation · Moderated mediation · Moderation · Psychological intervention · Social support · Structural equation modeling · Survey data collection · Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation · Higher Education and Employability · Higher Education Research Studies
Persistence of women and minorities in STEM field majors
Post-pandemic job market
Differences Between Latinx and White Students in College-Going Behaviors
Structures and Processes of Social Support
Principal self-efficacy
Why Students Choose STEM Majors
Professional Role Confidence and Gendered Persistence in Engineering
| Highly cited | No |
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