Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to test a well-being–career integration model that examines how self-leadership dimensions and sleep quality relate to career preparation behavior through self-efficacy and career decidedness among Korean university students in career transition. Research Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 213 university students (74 males, 139 females; Mage = 23.5, SD = 2.8) recruited from multiple four-year universities in South Korea. All measures underwent psychometric validation through sequential exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and measurement invariance testing. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling with 10,000 bootstrap replications. Results: Twelve of fifteen direct-path hypotheses were supported, and all eight mediation hypotheses were confirmed. Self-leadership dimensions demonstrated medium-to-large associations with self-efficacy (β = 0.287–0.401, p < .001), whereas sleep quality exhibited significant negative associations with all career variables (β = −0.243 for self-efficacy, p = .002). The model explained substantial variance in career preparation behavior (R² = 0.684). Findings suggest that sleep quality represents a previously overlooked correlate of career development and that self-leadership influences career preparation primarily through cognitive mediation pathways. Conclusion: Results indicate potential benefits of integrating sleep health interventions into campus career counseling services. Longitudinal research is needed to establish causal mechanisms, and the findings highlight the importance of considering both self-leadership and sleep quality in supporting students’ career development during transitional periods