Factor Structure and Construct Validity of the Chinese Version of Career Adapt-Abilities Scale Short form (CAAS-SF) for Career Adaptability among University Students in China

Abstract

Career adaptability is linked to effective career development and adjustment, which improves subjective career success. This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale Short Form (CAAS-SF) among undergraduate students in China using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The study included 349 public-funded undergraduates in teacher-training programs. The English CAAS-SF was translated into Chinese, and the results revealed an overall Cronbach’s alpha of .91 (concern = .942, control = .943, curiosity = .939, confidence = .934). The 12-item, four-factor CAAS-SF model was found to be appropriate for Chinese culture based on the sample data. Cross-cultural validation supports that the CAAS-SF reliably predicts career adaptability and is effective for assessing it among Chinese undergraduates, though further research with larger samples is needed to fully confirm these findings.