College of Economic and Management Sciences (UNISA)
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the relationshipbetween the psychological career resources (as measured by thePsychological Career Resources Inventory) and the subjective workexperiences of a sample of working adults (as measured by a fouritemglobal work experiences scale). The research also aimed toexplore broad trends regarding how the participants diff ered onthese variables in terms of their socio-demographic characteristics(marital status, educational level, age, gender and race). A sampleof 2 997 working adults, registered as students at a South Africanhigher distance education institution, participated in this study.Stepwise regression analyses indicated dimensions of psychologicalcareer resources as signifi cant predictors of the four subjective workexperiences: life satisfaction, job/career satisfaction, happinessand perceptions of work as a valuable activity. The results furtherindicated signifi cant diff erences between participants with regardto their socio-demographic characteristics and their psychologicalcareer resources and subjective work experiences. Considering thatthe employment equity context in South Africa contributes to a morediversifi ed workforce, the fi ndings add valuable new knowledge thatcan be used to inform organisational career development practicesconcerned with promoting experiences of psychological careersuccess
