Subjective socioeconomic status and vocational outcome expectations: A moderated mediation model

Through exploring the psychological dynamics within career development, this study investigated how subjective socioeconomic status (SSS) influences vocational outcome expectations (VOE) among university students. We hypothesized that (a) career adaptability would mediate this relationship, enhancing the positive impact of SSS on VOE, and (b) proactive personality would moderate the relationship between career adaptability and VOE. We used established scales for measuring the main variables with a sample of 834 Chinese undergraduates. The results supported our hypotheses, with career adaptability mediating the relationship between SSS and VOE, and proactive personality moderating the relationship between career adaptability and VOE. These findings provide valuable insights into enhancing career-development interventions, highlighting the importance of psychological resources and personal traits in shaping career expectations. Our research offers practical implications for educational institutions to more effectively support students’ career development.