Coping with an insecure employment environment: The differing roles of protean and boundaryless career orientations

• Published in: Journal of vocational behavior 2012-04, Vol.80 (2), p.308-316
• Main Authors: Briscoe, Jon P., Henagan, Stephanie C., Burton, James P., Murphy, Wendy M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment; Adults; Boundaryless career; Career self-management; Careers; Coping; Coping with change; Correlation; Economic Climate; Employee attitude; Job Search Methods; Job Security; Occupational psychology; Protean career; Structural Equation Models; Studies; Subjective career success; Well Being; Work Attitudes; Work environment
• ISSN: 0001-8791; 1095-9084
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2011.12.008

In this paper, we utilize a sample of working adults (N=362) in the context of the recent economic recession to explore the coping mechanisms associated with different career attitudes and their subsequent impact on important individual work outcomes. Results of structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrated that boundaryless mindset and self-directed protean career attitudes were differentially correlated with external support seeking, active coping, and identity awareness, which in turn were differentially correlated with individual work outcomes of job search behavior, performance, career success, and psychological well-being. Evidence for both full and partial mediation within the model tested is presented, as well as the potential implications of these findings and suggested avenues for future research. ► Protean and boundaryless attitudes differentially lead to positive career outcomes. ► Mediated by external support seeking, active coping, and identity awareness skills. ► Skills correlate differently w/ job search, performance, career success, and well-being. ► Study done in context of 2009 economic recession.