Lloyd, Georgia (2022) Being Prepared for the Future of Work: Does Cognitive Flexibility Mediate the Impact of Openness on Career Adaptability? Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
The employment landscape is increasingly dynamic, with technology transforming jobs and how people work. Career adaptability and the personality trait of openness have been associated with higher career success and employability. This new work environment requires people to be not only adaptable and open, but also willing and able to flexibly shift their thinking and behaviour situationally. Career adaptability has been independently linked with the personality trait of openness and characteristic adaptation of cognitive flexibility, however research investigating the interactions of these three constructs is scarce. This crosssectional study is grounded in career construction theory, examining the contribution of the psychosocial resources people use to navigate work-related demands and challenges. Participation took a novel approach, with a convenience sample of Australian adults completing measures via an online, unsupervised questionnaire. Career adaptability and openness were assessed with the Career Futures Inventory and Big Five Inventory, with cognitive flexibility measured using the Trail Making Test. Results showed a small, positive predictive effect between openness and cognitive flexibility. Contrary to expectations no relationship was found between either openness or cognitive flexibility and career adaptability. These results suggest that interactions between adaptivity resources and career adaptability is complex, and a better understanding of these relationships is needed. Future research could develop further insights into how multiple characteristic adaptations impact on the relationship between openness and career adaptability throughout a person’s career, helping shape interventions to help Australians navigate the future of work.
|
Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Gavin Beccaria |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Jun 2025 03:16 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Jun 2025 03:16 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | personality traits; openness to experience; cognitive flexibility; set-shifting; career adaptability |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52512 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Archive Repository Staff Only |
