Journal of Applied Psychological Research

The Relationship between Character Strengths and Cognitive Failures in Relation to Career Optimism: The Mediating Effect of Career Thoughts

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Counseling, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.

2 Associate professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.

Abstract

This study sought to examine the mediating role of career thoughts in the relationship between character strengths and cognitive failures with career path optimism. This is a correlational research investigation employing structural equation modeling. The statistical population comprised all students enrolled in the universities of Isfahan city in 2022, totaling approximately 68,500 students. A total of 366 participants (217 female and 149 male) were selected through a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the Virtues in Action-Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS), Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Career Futures Inventory (CFI), and Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI), and were analyzed through Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling utilizing SPSS-26 and AMOS-24 software. The findings indicated that character strengths are positively and significantly associated with career optimism, while also being negatively and significantly related to career thoughts. Conversely, cognitive failings and negative career thoughts exhibit a negative and significant relationship with career optimism. Additionally, the findings indicated that career thoughts play a substantial mediating role in the relationship between character strengths and career optimism. Considering that the management of thoughts is one of the character strengths and that career thoughts also serve as a mediating factor in the relationship between variables, it appears that directing intervention sessions focused on character strengths toward the management of career thoughts may influence students' career optimism.

Keywords

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Journal of Applied Psychological Research
Volume 16, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 203-219
  • Receive Date: 19 April 2023
  • Revise Date: 28 June 2023
  • Accept Date: 19 August 2023
  • First Publish Date: 06 April 2025
  • Publish Date: 31 December 2025