WELLBEING LITERACY IN ADOLESCENTS: A SCOPING REVIEW OF CURRENT PRACTICES AND EVIDENCE

Abstract

Vocational identity refers to a clear and stable understanding of an individual's career-related goals, interests, and talents. College students with a strong vocational identity are able to recognize their interests, values, beliefs, and career aspirations, thereby enhancing their readiness to enter the workforce. This study aims to identify both internal and external factors that influence the development of vocational identity among college students. A systematic literature review method was employed, focusing on peer-reviewed research articles published between 2021 and 2025. Literature was retrieved using the Publish or Perish application with the keywords: “Vocational Identity” AND “College Student” OR “University Student” OR “Undergraduate Student,” resulting in 450 articles. The inclusion criteria encompassed articles published in reputable journals, written in English, that employed quantitative or qualitative methods, involved student participants, and specifically addressed factors influencing vocational identity. The screening process was conducted using Rayyan.ai, yielding 17 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The study design follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The review findings reveal various determinants that influence students' vocational identity, which may serve as the basis for developing recommendations to enhance vocational identity development in higher education settings.