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Journals / Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi SBE Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 16 Sayı: 1

Wishful thinking or worthwhile inspiration? The impact of celebrity role models on undergraduates’ career engagement

Hevesli düşünce mi, değerli ilham mı? Lisans öğrencilerinin kariyer bağlılığında ünlü rol modellerin rolü

Berivan Tatar(GEBZE TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-0934-3734
Zeynep Karadeniz Cisdik(GEBZE TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0008-5727-9969
Prof. Dr. Oya Erdil(GEBZE TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-3793-001X
Pages
194–206
Publication Date
2026-03-26
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Furthermore, the present study empirically showed that (1) wishful identification positively relates to celebrity role model influence, (2) celebrity role model influence positively relates to career engagement, and (3) celebrity role model influence mediates the link between wishful identification and career engagement.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:With the proliferation of information and communication technologies, people have the possibility to access the personal and professional lives influence of celebrities in society.
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Key Findings & Data:The study is based on a sample of 380 undergraduate students, and data were analyzed via structural equation modeling.
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Conclusion & Impact:Furthermore, the present study empirically showed that (1) wishful identification positively relates to celebrity role model influence, (2) celebrity role model influence positively relates to career engagement, and (3) celebrity role model influence mediates the link between wishful identification and career engagement.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Rol Model · İstekli Özdeşleşme · Ünlü Rol Model

Abstract

With the proliferation of information and communication technologies, people have the possibility to access the personal and professional lives influence of celebrities in society. Hence, as powerful agents, celebrities have changed and influenced the values, attitudes, and behaviors of society in a variety of life domains. However, little is known about the role of the professional lives of celebrities as role models in the career development of their followers within the context of career psychology literature. Against this background, this research aims to investigate the link between celebrity role model influence, wishful identification, and career engagement. The study is based on a sample of 380 undergraduate students, and data were analyzed via structural equation modeling. The current study found that 61.84% of the participants selected celebrities from the same gender as their role models. In terms of nationality, 57.9% of the respondents adopt Turkish celebrities as role models. Furthermore, the present study empirically showed that (1) wishful identification positively relates to celebrity role model influence, (2) celebrity role model influence positively relates to career engagement, and (3) celebrity role model influence mediates the link between wishful identification and career engagement.

Özet

Bilgi ve iletişim teknolojilerinin yaygınlaşmasıyla birlikte insanlar, toplumdaki ünlülerin kişisel ve profesyonel yaşamlarındaki etkilerine erişme imkânına sahip olmuştur. Dolayısıyla, güçlü figürler olarak ünlüler, çeşitli yaşam alanlarında toplumunun değerlerini, tutumlarını ve davranışlarını değiştirmiş ve etkilemiştir. Ancak, kariyer psikolojisi literatürü bağlamında ünlülerin profesyonel yaşamları bağlamında ünlülerin rol model olarak benimsenmesinin, takipçilerinin kariyer gelişimi üzerindeki rolü hakkında çok az şey bilinmektedir. Bu çerçevede, bu araştırma ünlü rol model, istekli özdeşleşme ve kariyer adanmışlığı arasındaki bağlantıyı araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma, 380 lisans öğrencisinden oluşan bir örnekleme dayanmaktadır ve veriler yapısal eşitlik modellemesi yoluyla analiz edilmiştir. Mevcut çalışma, katılımcıların %61,84'ünün rol model olarak kendileriyle aynı cinsiyetten ünlüleri seçtiğini ortaya koymuştur. Uyruk açısından, katılımcıların %57,9'u Türk ünlüleri rol model olarak benimsemektedir. Ayrıca, mevcut çalışma (1) istekli özdeşleşmenin ünlü rol model etkisi ile pozitif ilişkili olduğunu, (2) ünlü rol model etkisinin kariyer adanmışlığı ile pozitif ilişkili olduğunu ve (3) ünlü rol model etkisinin istekli özdeşleşme ile kariyer adanmışlığı arasındaki bağlantıya aracılık ettiğini ampirik olarak göstermiştir.

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Cite This Article

Tatar, B., Cisdik, Z. K., Erdil, P. D. O. (2026). Wishful thinking or worthwhile inspiration? The impact of celebrity role models on undergraduates’ career engagement. Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi SBE Dergisi, Cilt: 16 Sayı: 1, 194–206. https://doi.org/10.30783/nevsosbilen.1725418

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