Development and Initial Validation of the Job-Search Self-Regulation Scale: Expanding the Career Adaptation Model of Job Search

Given the pressing issues of unemployment during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the underrecognized role of job-search self-regulation (JSSR) in general within career construction theory (CCT), it is socially and theoretically important to expand the career adaption model of job search by examining the role of JSSR in predicting job-search outcomes. However, a psychometrically sound measure of JSSR is lacking. Study 1 used a sample of U.S. unemployed individuals (n = 300) to develop and explore the factor structure of a measure of JSSR. Study 2 tracked a sample of U.S. unemployed individuals (n = 399) to validate the JSSR by examining its structural, concurrent, and predictive validities. Study 2 also examined the mediation of the JSSR subscales in the links from career adaptability to subsequent employment status and job-search progress (JSP). The results supported the psychometric soundness of the newly developed JSSR and demonstrated that JSSR behaviors mediated the positive predictions of career adaptability resources for subsequent employment status and JSP. Therefore, the present study offers a measure of JSSR for future research and practice and highlights JSSR as an important adapting response. Public Significance Statement The present study develops and initially validates a measure of job-search self-regulation (JSSR) and supports the mediation of JSSR in positive predictions of adaptability resources for subsequent employment status and job-search progress (JSP). Thus, the study offers a sound measurement tool of JSSR and extends job-search research within the framework of career construction theory.