https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392842638_The_Connection_Between_Educational_E[…]B1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicHJldmlvdXNQYWdlIjoic2NpZW5jZVRvcGljIn19 exercise science and kinesiology

Title: Cultivating Adaptive Practitioners: The Role of Academic Environment in Shaping Career Readiness for Exercise Science Professionals Abstract: The transition from student to autonomous practitioner in exercise science and kinesiology demands robust professional adaptability. This study investigated the relationship between the perceived educational environment and the development of career adaptability competencies in a cohort of final-year kinesiology students (n=86). Utilizing validated measures of learning climate perception and career adapt-abilities, a significant positive correlation (r = 0.595, p < .001) was found between overall educational environment quality and career adaptability. Crucially, students' perceptions of their own academic and practical competencies demonstrated the strongest association with adaptability (r = 0.719, p < .001), surpassing the predictive power of traditional academic metrics like GPA. Findings indicate that educational settings which foster confidence, curiosity, and a sense of control—key dimensions of adaptability—are fundamental to preparing kinesiology graduates for the uncertainties of modern professional practice, including roles in clinical exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, and rehabilitative sciences. This research underscores the need for pedagogical strategies that build professional self-efficacy alongside scientific knowledge.