Perceived career barriers and career adaptability among Chinese young adults: A moderated mediation model

Using psychology of working theory, we explored the impact of perceived career barriers on Chinese young adults’ career adaptability through the mediator of work volition, and examined the moderating effect of proactive personality on this relationship. Participants were 865 college students in China who completed a survey. The results showed that the perceived career barriers predicted career adaptability. Work volition mediated this relationship, and proactive personality moderated both the direct effect of perceived career barriers on work volition and the indirect effect of perceived career barriers on career adaptability via work volition. These findings illuminate the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions of the relationship between perceived career barriers and career adaptability, and offer practical insights for fostering sustainable career development among young adults in China.