Relationship Between School Music Context and Music Career Choice Among Chinese Adolescents: A Framework Based on a Context–Process–Outcomes Model

Abstract

Background: In response to the wide-ranging concern of career choice, the present study aimed to explore the antecedents and internal mechanisms of choosing a music career. Methods: Based on the model of context–process–outcomes, the school context (eg, school musical activities, musical specialized classrooms, music broadcasting and music teachers) was incorporated into an integrated model as predictors. We selected music interest and music value as mediators. A total of 28,018 adolescents in public secondary school completed psychometric questionnaires. Results: The results of structural equation modeling indicated that school musical activities, musical classroom, and music teachers were all positively related to music interest and music value, which in turn positively predicted music career choice but the indirect impact of school musical broadcasting on music career choice via music value is not valid. Conclusion: This survey investigated a large national sample of adolescents for music career choice and its relevant antecedents based on the context–process–outcomes model. There was a significant influence of school music context on students’ music career choice. Furthermore, music interest and music value partially explained the indirect psychological process between school music context and music career choice.