Taylor, Andrew (2015) Psychological Flexibility and Career Adaptability in Retail Work: Implications for Vocational Psychology. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Empirical evidence for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy’s (ACT) ability to assist workers face the challenges in uncertain job markets is scarce. Therefore, the current study aimed to elucidate how the constructs of psychological flexibility, cognitive defusion and mindfulness related to the career adaptability dimensions of concern, control, curiosity and confidence, work volition, vocational calling, and life satisfaction in a sample of 187 retail workers. Results from standard multiple regression analyses supported the hypothesis that psychological flexibility, cognitive defusion and mindfulness would significantly predict career adaptability. The model was significant R = .30, F (3, 183) = 6.00, p = .001, with all variables together accounting for approximately 9.0% of the variance in career adaptability, which is a medium effect size. The hypothesis that psychological flexibility, cognitive defusion, mindfulness, career adaptability, work volition and vocational calling would significantly predict life satisfaction was partially supported. The model was significant, R = .61, F (10, 176) = 10.51, p < .001, together accounting for approximately 37% of the variance in life satisfaction, which is a large effect size. Four unique individual predictors emerged from the model, including, work volition, psychological flexibility, and the career adaptability dimensions of career confidence and career concern. This evidence demonstrates the first link between psychological flexibility as an operational form of adaptivity and career adaptability. Moreover, this study may stimulate further research into the viability of ACT approaches in vocational psychology.
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| 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: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Nancey Hoare |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Aug 2025 01:00 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Aug 2025 01:00 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | career adaptability; adaptivity; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; psychological flexibility; life satisfaction; retail workers |
| 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/52809 |
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