Role modeling as a socialization mechanism in the transmission of career adaptability across generations

Drawing from Career Construction Theory (Savickas, 2013) and Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986), we examine role modeling as a socialization mechanism that facilitates the transmission of career adaptability across generations. The proposed serial mediation model was tested using 187 grandparent-parent-grandchild triads. Results showed that role modeling mediated the relationships between grandparents’ parents’ and grandchildren's career adaptability. Furthermore, we found support for the full serial mediation model where grandparents’ career adaptability indirectly predicted granchildren's career adaptability via parents’ career adaptability and role modeling. Our results advance our understanding of the psychosocial nature of career adaptability. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.