The purpose of this study is to verify the mediating effect of basic psychological needs on the relationship between parental attachment and career adaptability of university students. A multiple regression analysis and a significance verification of the mediated effect were conducted on 319 university students attending domestic universities using the scale of parental attachment, career adaptability and basic psychological needs. Through T-test, gender differences were analyzed for parental attachment, career adaptability, and basic psychological needs.
The results of this study are as follows. First, depending on gender differences, there were significant differences in parental attachment, career adaptability, and basic psychological needs. Second, there was a significant positive correlation between parental attachment and career adaptability of university students, and there was a significant positive correlation between basic psychological needs and career adaptability. Third, in the relationship between father attachment and career adaptability basic psychological needs were completely mediated and in the relationship between mother attachment and career adaptability basic psychological needs were completely mediated. Finally, implication and limitation of study are discussed.