How does role accumulation enhance career adaptability? A dual mediation analysis

Abstract

Investigating the contributing factors of career adaptability has always been an important topic in the field of vocational psychology research. From the perspective of person-environment interaction, this study introduced the role accumulation theory into the researches of career adaptability. Using a sample of 379 Chinese college students (mean age = 20.36 years, SD = 1.67), a model of role accumulation affecting college students’ career adaptability was constructed, and the parallel mediating mechanisms of self-efficacy and social support were also discussed. Participants filled out questionnaires regarding role accumulation, self-efficacy, social support, and career adaptability. The results of structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that: (1) Role accumulation positively predicted career adaptability in college students; (2) Role accumulation also indirectly predicted career adaptability through self-efficacy and social support. The present study is the first to validate the psychological pathways linking role accumulation to career adaptability via self-efficacy and social support. The contribution of this study to the literature is to provide a new perspective that can clarify the predictors of career adaptability. In addition, for educational administrators and career practitioners, targeting role accumulation is valuable for developing college students’ career adaptability.