The Mediating Role of Academic Satisfaction in the Relationship Between Career Aspirations and Academic Buoyancy Among Students in Wasit, Iraq

Abstract

Purpose: Academic buoyancy is crucial for students' performance and capability in university environments. This study aimed to determine the relationship between career aspirations and academic buoyancy, considering the mediating role of academic satisfaction among students at Wasit University in Iraq.   Methodology: The research method was correlational, and the statistical population included all students enrolled at Wasit University, Iraq, during the spring and summer of 2024. From the mentioned population, 250 students were selected through convenience sampling and responded to three questionnaires: Career Aspirations (Danziger et al., 2008), Academic Buoyancy (Hosseinchari & Dehghanizadeh, 2012), and Academic Satisfaction (Ahmadi, 2009). The research data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling (SEM) through SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 25 software.   Findings: The results indicated that career aspirations have a significant relationship with both academic buoyancy and academic satisfaction (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Structural equation modeling results demonstrated that academic satisfaction is a full mediating variable in the relationship between career aspirations and academic buoyancy.   Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, policymakers in Iraq's higher education system should focus on the role of career aspirations and academic satisfaction in empowering students for greater academic buoyancy.