The relationship between psychological flexibility and career adaptability as resources to promote well-being

ABSTRACT

One of career counseling goals is to understand how to promote the well-being of people facing the unforeseen challenges of the changing world of work. The study investigates the relationship between psychological flexibility, career adaptability and well-being. 498 adult participants reply to Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, Career Adapt-Abilities Scale, Satisfaction with life scale, and Flourishing Scale. Results show that career adaptability mediates the relationship between psychological flexibility and life satisfaction as well as between psychological flexibility and flourishing, suggesting that career adaptability could be considered a personal resource that enhances the effects of psychological flexibility on hedonic and eudemonic well-being, fostering the ability to adapt to changes in self and situation. Implications for future studies and career counselling are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• psychological flexibility
• career adaptability
• life satisfaction
• flourishing
• well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Angela Russo

Angela Russo, PhD Student, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Italy. Research collaborator in Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Catania and Social Psychology at the Kore University of Enna.

Andrea Zammitti

Andrea Zammitti, Research Fellow, Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Italy. Research collaborator in Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Catania and Social Psychology at the Kore University of Enna.

Giuseppe Santisi

Giuseppe Santisi, Full Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Italy.

Paola Magnano

Paola Magnano, Associate Professor, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University of Enna, Italy.