AI Insight
This study of 7,625 telecommunications employees in China examined how family function influences career adaptability through psychological mechanisms. The research found that social support and general self-efficacy act as mediators in this relationship, both independently and through a chain effect, collectively explaining how positive family functioning translates into better career adaptability. The chain mediation pathway accounted for approximately 12.5% of the total effect, with general self-efficacy showing the strongest individual mediation effect at 33.5%.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that organizations can enhance employee career adaptability not only through direct workplace interventions but also by supporting family functioning and fostering social support networks. The identified resource conversion pathway provides a theoretical framework for designing comprehensive employee development programs that address both work and family domains.
Understand the Science
ObjectiveCareer adaptability is an important personal resource for employees’ career development. Among telecommunications employees, the relationship between family function as an environmental resource and career adaptability requires further study. Based on Career construction theory and Conservation of resources theory, this study used mediation analysis to explore the influence mechanism of family function on career adaptability and the roles of social support and general self-efficacy.MethodsAn online survey was conducted using the Family Assessment Device, the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale among 10,516 employees of a telecommunications company in Shandong, China, yielding 7,625 valid responses.ResultsSocial support and general self-efficacy are mediating factors between family function and career adaptability, accounting for 11.325% and 33.493% of the total effect, respectively. Furthermore, social support and general self-efficacy had a chain mediating effect between family function and career adaptability, accounting for 12.530% of the total effect.ConclusionThis study identified a resource conversion pathway linking family function to career adaptability among telecommunications employees, in which social support and general self-efficacy jointly played a chain mediating role. The findings provide empirical evidence for the combined application of Career construction theory and Conservation of resources theory in this occupational group.