Undergraduate students’ life satisfaction, between employability and career capabilities

Assessment of life satisfaction (LS) is an important issue in the overall preparation of undergraduates towards an employment outcome. The aim of our study is to analyze the associations between LS and socio-demographic factors, career attitudes, employability soft skills, academic work satisfaction and quality of life autonomy. Methods: Undergraduate students were invited to complete a paper pencil questionnaire exploring: Life satisfaction (LS), Dynamic Career Attitudes (DCA), Employability Soft-Skills (ESS-Short), academic Work Satisfaction (WS), Quality Life of Autonomy (QoLA) and socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, educational field, year of study, work experience (less vs. more than 6 months and actual employment). Data were analyzed using correlation and multiple linear regression models. Results: 124 volunteers (22.6 years) had LS of 75.4/100. Majority were women, in the first year of Bachelor, and in applied management. Most of them had six months or less of job experiences and were unemployed. Higher the DCA, ESS-Short, QoLA and WS better was the students LS. Conclusions: LS is an indicator related with employability and career capabilities. Supporting students through wellness and career activities program in autonomy-supportive environment, to cope with their stressful period and to enhance their generic employment and career capabilities may allow to the undergraduates to maintain their LS.