Career Adaptability and Life Satisfaction Among Academics: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

Career plays an important role in shaping an individual's identity, purpose, overall well-being, and life satisfaction. Understanding the association between career adaptability and life satisfaction is essential because being able to navigate career-related transitions and challenges prepares the ground for professional success and fulfillment in life. This study investigates the relationship between career adaptability and life satisfaction, focusing on self-regulation as a mediator and perceived social support as a moderator. Data were collected from 182 academics (118 women, 64.84%) through a cross-sectional survey. The results indicated that self-regulation fully mediated the relationship between career adaptability and life satisfaction. Furthermore, moderated mediation analysis demonstrated that the indirect relationship between career adaptability and life satisfaction through self-regulation is strengthened at higher levels of perceived social support. These findings highlight the importance of self-regulation and perceived social support in fostering life satisfaction among academics, offering valuable implications for career development interventions.