V3I7P77

Beyond Financial Motivation: An Integrated Behavioral Model Explaining University Students’ Sustainable Engagement in Part-Time Employment in Vietnam

Phi Cong Manh^1*

Abstract

This study develops and validates an integrated behavioral model to explain Vietnamese university students’ intention to retain part-time employment. Drawing on the integration of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), and Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory, the study examines the effects of intrinsic motivation, work meaningfulness, career fit, study–work balance, and job satisfaction on students’ intention to continue part-time employment. Data were collected from university students engaged in part-time work and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings indicate that psychological and career development factors positively influence both job satisfaction and intention to retain part-time employment, whereas financial motivation serves only as a complementary driver. The study extends the theoretical understanding of students’ employment behavior and offers practical implications for higher education institutions and employers.

Keywords:

Part-time employment; sustainable engagement; intrinsic motivation; university students; structural equation modeling; Vietnam