Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Openness to Experience and the Career Adaptability of Refugees: How Do Career Optimism and Family Social Support Matter?

  • Alexander Newman
  • , Karen Dunwoodie
  • , Zhou Jiang
  • , Ingrid Nielsen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    17 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The present study examines the antecedents of the career adaptability of people from a refugee background. Drawing on career construction theory, it specifically examines whether openness to experience fosters career adaptability through enhancing career optimism. In addition, it examines whether family social support moderates the relationship between openness to experience and career optimism, and moderates the mediated relationship between openness to experience and career adaptability through career optimism. Analysis of three waves of data from people from a refugee background seeking employment in metropolitan Australia found support for the hypothesized relationships. In particular, career optimism was found to fully mediate the relationship between openness to experience and career adaptability. In addition, family social support was found to substitute for low levels of openness to experience.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)309-328
    Number of pages20
    JournalJournal of Career Assessment
    Volume30
    Issue number2
    Early online date9 Oct 2021
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2022

    Keywords

    • career adaptability
    • career optimism
    • family support
    • openness to experience
    • personality
    • social support

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Openness to Experience and the Career Adaptability of Refugees: How Do Career Optimism and Family Social Support Matter?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this