A transactional model of career adaptability: Longitudinal links between parental career-related behaviors, parent-child relationship, and career adaptability among Chinese adolescents

Although prior studies have established that parental involvement affects career adaptability, few if any have investigated the reciprocal effect of career adaptability on parental involvement. Based on career construction theory and the transactional model of development, this study aimed to examine the bidirectional associations between specific parental career-related behaviors (i.e., support, interference, and lack of engagement), the parent-child relationship, and career adaptability. A three-wave longitudinal design was used to collect data from 3837 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 16.68, SD = 0.45, 52 % females) at three time points with 1-year intervals. The results revealed: (a) bidirectional relationships between support and career adaptability; (b) bidirectional relationships between parent-child relationship and career adaptability, an association that became stronger during the transition from grade 11 to grade 12; (c) bidirectional relationships between the three different parental career-related behaviors and the parent-child relationship. No difference in strength was observed between the parent-driven effect and the child-driven effect. Remarkably, the parent-child relationship was more strongly associated with career adaptability than with any specific parental career-related behavior. Two potential mechanisms were also identified: (a) the cumulative influence of support on the development of career adaptability and vice versa; (b) a longitudinal mediating role of the parent-child relationship between parental career-related behaviors and career adaptability. This study suggests that career adaptability can develop from career-related support and positive parent-child relationship. Relevant interventions could be integrated into educational and counseling programs to equip parents with effective strategies for supporting their children's career development.