Table 1 Descriptive statistics and correlations among variables of interest (N = 692)

1. Pre-internship perceived stress

37.02

5.95

1

-

-

-

2. Post-internship anxiety

10.81

3.17

0.43^***

1

-

-

3. Pre-internship career adaptability

74.33

10.48

-0.69^***

-0.28^***

1

-

4. Pre-internship professional commitment

94.94

13.74

-0.55^***

-0.27^***

0.74^***

1

5. Gender

-

-

0.01

0.01

0.08^*

0.07

6. Age

20.94

1.79

-0.02

-0.03

-0.03

0.01

7. Hometown location

-

-

0.07

-0.07

-0.03

-0.01

8. One-child family

-

-

-0.03

0.03

0.01

0.03

9. Father’s educational level

-

-

-0.09^*

0.09^*

0.05

0.03

10. Mother’s educational level

-

-

-0.11^**

0.12^**

0.08^*

0.01