Objective To explore the influencing factors of career orientation among"empty-nest youths"as well as the relationship among perceived social support

psychological capital and career orientation.Methods Based on the use of Luthans Psychological Capital Questionnaire-24（PCQ-24）

Perceived Social Support Scale（PSSS）

and Holland Vocational Hobby Test（HVHT）

a total of 117"empty-nest youths"were surveyed.The mediation effect of psychological capital was tested using the Bootstrap method.Results The PCQ-24 score was higher in men than that in women（67.34±9.43 versus 60.71±16.43

P<0.05）

while the score of the HVHT artistic dimension was higher in women than that in men（8.87±5.55 versus 7.08±3.09

P<0.05）.The PCQ-24 score was higher in respondents of junior college degree compared with those of bachelor′s degree（119.00±15.72 versus 109.76±27.22

P<0.05）;the scores of the HVHT social and conventional dimensions were significantly higher in respondents of junior college degree compared with those of bachelor′s degree（10.40±4.00 versus8.18±2.91

8.80±1.97 versus 7.14±3.25

respectively;both P<0.05）.Correlation analysis demonstrated pairwise positive correlations among perceived social support

psychological capital

and each dimension of career orientation（P<0.05）.Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that

when realistic career orientation was regarded as the dependent variable

both perceived social support and psychological capital entered the regression equation

and both could positively predict realistic career orientation（P<0.05）.The test for mediation effect revealed that

psychological capital had a complete mediating effect on the relationship between perceived social support and artistic and investigative career orientations;psychological capital had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between perceived social support and realistic

social

enterprising

and conventional career orientations.Conclusion Psychological capital seems to have a mediating effect on the relationship between perceived social support and career orientation.