Antecedents of job search self-efficacy of Syrian refugees in Greece and the Netherlands

• Published in: Journal of vocational behavior 2018-04, Vol.105, p.159-172
• Main Authors: Pajic, Sofija, Ulceluse, Magdalena, Kismihók, Gábor, Mol, Stefan T., den Hartog, Deanne N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptability; Career adaptability; Career barriers; Careers; Employment; Job hunting; Job search self-efficacy; Labor market; Occupational mobility; Refugees; Self-efficacy
• ISSN: 0001-8791; 1095-9084
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2017.11.001

The goal of the current study was to investigate the relationships among psychological resources, career barriers, and job search self-efficacy in a sample of post-2014 Syrian refugees. Participants included 330 refugees in Greece and the Netherlands. Data were obtained using paper-based surveys, with all measures translated into Arabic. Drawing from career construction theory (Savickas, 2005), we hypothesized that adaptive readiness, operationalized in terms of psychological capital, would be positively related to job search self-efficacy through career adaptability. In addition, social and administrative career barriers were hypothesized to moderate the first stage of the indirect effect between psychological capital and job search self-efficacy, such that this relationship is weaker when refugees experience higher career barriers. Results indicated that individuals with higher psychological capital more confidently engaged in job search behavior in the destination country, mostly due to their enhanced career adaptability. However, this relationship weakened when participants experienced higher social barriers and strengthened when they experienced higher administrative barriers. The findings provide further support for the career construction model of adaptation (Savickas & Porfeli, 2012) and pinpoint career adapt-ability resources as critical self-regulatory strengths that help individuals in this particularly vulnerable group adapt to occupational transitions. Moreover, the results highlight the potentially detrimental role of social barriers in this process. Based on the results, we offer implications for formulating training and career construction theory-based career counseling focused on enhancing career adaptability and psychological capital. •We assessed job search self-efficacy (JSSE) among Syrian refugees.•Psychological capital positively affected JSSE via career adaptability.•Perceiving higher social barriers weakened the aforementioned indirect effect.•Perceiving higher administrative barriers strengthened the positive indirect effect.•We explored the differences between refugees in Greece and the Netherlands.