Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Future Work Self and Calling: The Mediational Role of Life Meaning

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Happiness Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Research on calling prevailingly focuses on the positive effects on well-being and career development. However, explorations of the predictors and emergence of callings are sparse. We tested a model in which clarity about the future work self promotes one’s sense of calling through increased life meaning. We sampled 473 Chinese college students with a three-wave panel design over 1 year. Using time-lagged analysis, we found that the future work self at T1 significantly predicted increased life meaning at T2, which, in turn, significantly predicted increased calling at T3. This indirect effect was significant and supported the hypothesized longitudinal mediation model. The reverse effects of one’s calling as a predictor of self-clarity about one’s future work life or life meaning were not confirmed. Our findings suggest that among Chinese college students, self-clarity about one’s future work life and understanding one’s life meaning are two important steps in the development of one’s calling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, C. M. (2012). Calling and career counseling with college students: Finding meaning in work and life. Journal of College Counseling, 15, 65–80. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1882.2012.00006.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, T. E. (2005). Potential problems in the statistical control of variables in organizational research: A qualitative analysis with recommendations. Organizational Research Methods, 8, 274–289. doi:10.1177/1094428105278021.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indices in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238–246. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.107.2.238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bott, E. M., & Duffy, R. D. (2014). A two-wave longitudinal study of career calling among undergraduates: Testing for predictors. Journal of Career Assessment,. doi:10.1177/1069072714535030.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunderson, J. S., & Thompson, J. A. (2009). The call of the wild: Zookeepers, callings, and the double-edged sword of deeply meaningful work. Administrative Science Quarterly, 54, 32–57. doi:10.2189/asqu.2009.54.1.32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai, Z., Guan, Y., Li, H., Shi, W., Guo, K., Liu, Y., et al. (2015). Self-esteem and proactive personality as predictors of future work self and career adaptability: An examination of mediating and moderating processes. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 86, 86–94. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.10.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • China Education Online. (2014). The number of university graduates peaks a new record in 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014, from http://www.eol.cn/html/c/2014gxbys/

  • Cole, D. A., & Maxwell, S. E. (2003). Testing meditational models with longitudinal data: Questions and tips in the use of structural equation modeling. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112, 558–577. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.112.4.558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dik, B. J., & Duffy, R. D. (2009). Calling and vocation at work: Definitions and prospects for research and practice. The Counseling Psychologist, 37, 424–450. doi:10.1177/0011000008316430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dik, B. J., Duffy, R. D., Allan, B. A., O’Donnell, M. B., Shim, Y., & Steger, M. F. (2015). Purpose and meaning in career development applications. The Counseling Psychologist, 43(4), 558–585. doi:10.1177/0011000014546872.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobrow, S. R. (2013). Dynamics of calling: A longitudinal study of musicians. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34(4), 431–452. doi:10.1002/job.1808.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobrow, S. R., & Heller, D. (2015). Follow your heart or your head? A longitudinal study of the facilitating role of calling and ability in the pursuit of a challenging career. Journal of Applied Psychology, 100(3), 695–712. doi:10.1037/a0038011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobrow, S. R., & Tosti-Kharas, J. (2011). Calling: The development of a scale measure. Personnel Psychology, 64, 1001–1049. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01234.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., Allan, B. A., Autin, K. L., & Douglass, R. P. (2014a). Living a calling and work well-being: A longitudinal study. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 61(4), 605–615. doi:10.1037/cou0000042.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., Allan, B. A., & Bott, E. M. (2012). Calling and life satisfaction among undergraduate students: Investigating mediators and moderators. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13, 469–479. doi:10.1007/s10902-011-9274-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., & Dik, B. J. (2013). Research on calling: What have we learned and where are we going? Journal of Vocational Behavior, 83, 428–436. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2013.06.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., Douglass, R. P., Autin, K. L., & Allan, B. A. (2014b). Examining predictors and outcomes of a career calling among undergraduate students. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85, 309–318. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.08.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., Manuel, R. S., Borges, N. J., & Bott, E. M. (2011). Calling, vocational development, and well-being: A longitudinal study of medical students. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79(2), 361–366. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2011.03.023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, R. D., & Sedlacek, W. E. (2010). The salience of a career calling among college students: Exploring group differences and links to religiousness, life meaning, and life satisfaction. The Career Development Quarterly, 59, 27–40. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2010.tb00128.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elangovan, A. R., Pinder, C. C., & McLean, M. (2010). Callings and organizational behavior. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 76(3), 428–440. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.10.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enders, C. K. (2010). Applied missing data analysis. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. W. (2009). Missing data analysis: Making it work in the real world. Annual Review of Psychology, 60(1), 549–576. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, Y., Guo, Y., Bond, M. H., Cai, Z., Zhou, X., Xu, J., et al. (2014). New job market entrants’ future work self, career adaptability and job search outcomes: Examining mediating and moderating models. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85, 136–145. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.05.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagmaier, T., & Abele, A. E. (2012). The multidimensionality of calling: Conceptualization, measurement and a bicultural perspective. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 81, 39–51. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2012.04.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, D. T., & Chandler, D. E. (2005). Psychological success: When the career is a calling. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26, 155–176. doi:10.1002/job.301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschi, A. (2011). Callings in career: A typological approach to essential and optional components. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79(1), 60–73. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2010.11.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschi, A., & Herrmann, A. (2013). Calling and career preparation: Investigating developmental patterns and temporal precedence. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 83, 51–60. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2013.02.008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Little, T. D. (2013). Longitudinal structural equation modeling. New York, NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, T. D., Preacher, K. J., Selig, J. P., & Card, N. A. (2007). New developments in latent variable panel analyses of longitudinal data. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 31, 357–365. doi:10.1177/0165025407077757.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, B. (2010). Bayesian analysis in Mplus: A brief introduction. (Mplus Technical Report). Retrieved December 27, 2014 from http://www.statmodel.com

  • Muthén, B. O., & Muthén, L. K. (1998–2012). Mplus user’s guide (2th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

  • Parker, S. K., Bindl, U. K., & Strauss, K. (2010). Making things happen: A model of proactive motivation. Journal of Management, 36, 827–856. doi:10.1177/0149206310363732.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Praskova, A., Creed, P. A., & Hood, M. (2015). The development and initial validation of a career calling scale for emerging adults. Journal of Career Assessment, 23(1), 91–106. doi:10.1177/1069072714523089.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Praskova, A., Hood, M., & Creed, P. A. (2014). Testing a calling model of psychological career success in Australian young adults: A longitudinal study. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85(1), 125–135. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.04.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pratt, M., & Ashforth, B. (2003). Fostering meaningfulness in working and at work. In K. Cameron, J. Dutton, & R. Quinn (Eds.), Positive organizational scholarship (pp. 309–327). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J. (2015). Advances in mediation analysis: A survey and synthesis of new developments. Annual Review of Psychology, 66, 825–852. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., & Selig, J. P. (2012). Advantages of Monte Carlo confidence intervals for indirect effects. Communication Methods and Measures, 6, 77–98. doi:10.1080/19312458.2012.679848.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Satorra, A., & Bentler, P. (2001). A scaled difference Chi square test statistic for moment structure analysis. Psychometrika, 66, 507–514. doi:10.1007/BF02296192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savickas, M. L. (2005). The theory and practice of career construction. In R. W. Lent & S. D. Brown (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work (pp. 42–70). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savickas, M. L. (2013). Career construction theory and practice. In R. W. Lent & S. D. Brown (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work (2nd ed., pp. 147–183). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steger, M. F. (2012). Experiencing meaning in life: Optimal functioning at the nexus of well-being, psychopathology, and spirituality. In P. T. P. Wong (Ed.), The human quest for meaning (2nd ed., pp. 165–184). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 80–93. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, K., Griffin, M. A., & Parker, S. K. (2012). Future work selves: How salient hoped-for identities motivate proactive career behaviors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 97, 580–598. doi:10.1037/a0026423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taber, B. J., & Blankemeyer, M. (2015). Future work self and career adaptability in the prediction of proactive career behaviors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 86, 20–27. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2014.10.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M., & Dai, X. (2008). Chinese meaning in life questionnaire revised in college students and its reliability and validity test. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 16, 459–461.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weston, R., & Gore, P. A. (2006). A brief guide to structural equation modeling. The Counseling Psychologist, 34, 719–751. doi:10.1177/0011000006286345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, A. L. Y., & Slater, J. R. (2002). Executive development in China: Is there any in a Western sense? International Journal of Human Resource Management, 13(2), 338–360. doi:10.1080/09585190110103052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, Y., & MacKinnon, D. P. (2009). Bayesian mediation analysis. Psychological Methods, 14, 301–322. doi:10.1037/a0016972.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C., Dik, B. J., Wei, J., & Zhang, J. (2015a). Work as a calling in China: A qualitative study of Chinese college students. Journal of Career Assessment, 23(2), 236–249. doi:10.1177/1069072714535029.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C., Herrmann, A., Hirschi, A., Wei, J., & Zhang, J. (2015b). Assessing calling in Chinese college students: Development of a measure and its relation to hope. Journal of Career Assessment, 23(4), 582–596. doi:10.1177/1069072715595804.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C., Hirschi, A., Herrmann, A., Wei, J., & Zhang, J. (2015c). Self-directed career attitude as predictor of career and life satisfaction in Chinese employees. Career Development International, 20(7), 703–716. doi:10.1108/CDI-06-2015-0090.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, No 199, South Chang’an Road, Yanta District, Xi’an, 710062, China

    Chunyu Zhang

  2. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Behavior & Cognitive Neuroscience, Xi’an, 710062, China

    Chunyu Zhang

  3. Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Fabrikstrasse 8, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Andreas Hirschi

  4. University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland

    Anne Herrmann

  5. Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, No 2, Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, China

    Jia Wei & Jinfu Zhang

Authors
  1. Chunyu Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andreas Hirschi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anne Herrmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jia Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jinfu Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chunyu Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, C., Hirschi, A., Herrmann, A. et al. The Future Work Self and Calling: The Mediational Role of Life Meaning. J Happiness Stud 18, 977–991 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9760-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9760-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation