How Can Personality Enhance Sustainable Career Management? The Mediation Effects of Future Time Perspective in Career Decisions

• Main Authors: In-Jo Park, Meiqiao Gu, Shenyang Hai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: future time perspective; personality; career decision-making; self-efficacy; career indecision
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/3/1167

This study seeks to explore the mediating effects of future time perspective (FTP) between personality variables and career decision-making self-efficacy and career indecision with respect to managing sustainable careers. We used an online survey to collect data from 250 undergraduates for Study 1, in which we explored the mediating role of FTP which focused on the emotional and cognitive personality traits of emotional intelligence, ego resilience, and self-control; and from 249 undergraduate students for Study 2, in which we investigated the mediating effects of FTP on the personality traits of extraversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. The results from the first study indicated that emotional intelligence, ego resilience, and self-control had indirect effects on career decision-making self-efficacy and career indecision via FTP. The results of the second study showed that extraversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism had indirect effects on career decision self-efficacy and career indecision via FTP. These results contribute to an enhanced understanding of the relationship between personalities and career decisions, and they expand our knowledge about the antecedents and consequences of FTP. At the end of this paper, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of this study and identify directions for future research.