Developing Sustainable Careers during a Pandemic: The Role of Psychological Capital and Career Adaptability

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jetmir Zyberaj - (Author)
  • Sebastian Seibel - (Author)
  • Annika F. Schowalter - (Author)
  • Lennart Pötz - (Author)
  • Stefanie Richter-Killenberg - , Chair of Social Psychology (Author)
  • Judith Volmer - (Author)

Abstract

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not only had negative effects on employees’ health, but also on their prospects to gain and maintain employment. Using a longitudinal research design with two measurement points, we investigated the ramifications of various psychological and organizational resources on employees’ careers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, in a sample of German employees (N = 305), we investigated the role of psychological capital (PsyCap) for four career-related outcomes: career satisfaction, career engagement, coping with changes in career due to COVID-19, and career-related COVID-19 worries. We also employed leader–member exchange (LMX) as a moderator and career adaptability as a mediating variable in these relationships. Results from path analyses revealed a positive association between PsyCap and career satisfaction and career coping. Furthermore, PsyCap was indirectly related to career engagement through career adaptability. However, moderation analysis showed no moderating role of LMX on the link between PsyCap and career adaptability. Our study contributes to the systematic research concerning the role of psychological and organizational resources for employees’ careers and well-being, especially for crisis contexts.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number3105
JournalSustainability
Volume14
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85126323861
WOS 000768498500001
Mendeley afb396f3-0171-3784-8811-2788a8f66762
unpaywall 10.3390/su14053105

Keywords

DFG Classification of Subject Areas according to Review Boards

Subject groups, research areas, subject areas according to Destatis

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • COVID-19, Career adaptability, Career coping, Career engagement, Career satisfaction, LMX, Psychological capital