The relations between career adaptability, career engagement, and life satisfaction

Abstract

Based on the Career Construction Model of Adaptation (CCMA), this study aimed to examine the relations between career adaptability, career engagement, and life satisfaction in Turkish young adults. Participants were university students, 410 Turkish young adults (75.9% females and 24.1% males), aged 18-26 years (M = 20.80, SD = 1.50). Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses of the present study. After controlling the perceived socioeconomic status, career adaptability was found to be associated with career engagement and life satisfaction. Moreover, career engagement was related to life satisfaction. The result of the structural equation model and bootstrapping analyses showed that career engagement fully mediated the relationship between career adaptability and life satisfaction. The results of the study indicated that engagement in proactive career behaviors explains how career adaptability and life satisfaction are related. The results of this study improve our understanding of the link between career adaptability and life satisfaction, with particular emphasis on the role of career engagement as a mediator. The result was discussed regarding the relevant literature and the implications were provided.