Psychological attachment in the new normal working context: Influence of career navigation and career well-being attributes

Background: The new normal working context, characterised by fast changes, rapid upskilling, adoption of technology, and remote working, requires employees to remain psychologically attached to their organisations. More insight is needed regarding how career navigation (as an attribute of career agi...

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Main Authors: Ingrid L. Potgieter, Melinde Coetzee, Nadia Ferreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2021-12-01
Series:African Journal of Career Development
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ajcd.africa/index.php/ajcd/article/view/48
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author Ingrid L. Potgieter
Melinde Coetzee
Nadia Ferreira
author_facet Ingrid L. Potgieter
Melinde Coetzee
Nadia Ferreira
author_sort Ingrid L. Potgieter
collection DOAJ
description Background: The new normal working context, characterised by fast changes, rapid upskilling, adoption of technology, and remote working, requires employees to remain psychologically attached to their organisations. More insight is needed regarding how career navigation (as an attribute of career agility) and career well-being attributes explain the psychological attachment of employees in order to invest in their career development amidst the chaos and demands driven by the new normal working context. Objective: The study explored career navigation and career well-being attributes (i.e. positive career effect, career networking/social support, and career meaningfulness) as potential explanatory mechanisms of individuals’ psychological attachment. Method: The study used a cross-sectional research design, which involved a convenience sample (n = 177) of national and international employees (mean age = 34 years; standard deviation [SD] = 10.14), represented by 39% managerial employees, 38% staff, and 23% professional consultants. Most of the participants (72%) were employed by South African organisations. Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that career navigation explains higher levels of psychological attachment (including affective, normative, and continuous attachment). Positive career effects significantly predicted continuous attachment, whereas social support/career networking positively predicted overall psychological attachment and affective and normative attachment. Career meaningfulness was found to explain higher levels of overall and affective psychological attachment. Conclusion: The findings contribute new insights into the construct of career navigation and career well-being attributes and extend research on the antecedents of psychological attachment in the new normal working space, characterised by remote working and technology.
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spelling doaj.art-699ff3ec31eb46d8a452a313f2493db12022-12-22T03:12:02ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Career Development2709-74202617-74712021-12-0131e1e810.4102/ajcd.v3i1.4824Psychological attachment in the new normal working context: Influence of career navigation and career well-being attributesIngrid L. Potgieter0Melinde Coetzee1Nadia Ferreira2Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, TshwaneDepartment of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, TshwaneDepartment of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, TshwaneBackground: The new normal working context, characterised by fast changes, rapid upskilling, adoption of technology, and remote working, requires employees to remain psychologically attached to their organisations. More insight is needed regarding how career navigation (as an attribute of career agility) and career well-being attributes explain the psychological attachment of employees in order to invest in their career development amidst the chaos and demands driven by the new normal working context. Objective: The study explored career navigation and career well-being attributes (i.e. positive career effect, career networking/social support, and career meaningfulness) as potential explanatory mechanisms of individuals’ psychological attachment. Method: The study used a cross-sectional research design, which involved a convenience sample (n = 177) of national and international employees (mean age = 34 years; standard deviation [SD] = 10.14), represented by 39% managerial employees, 38% staff, and 23% professional consultants. Most of the participants (72%) were employed by South African organisations. Results: Multiple regression analysis revealed that career navigation explains higher levels of psychological attachment (including affective, normative, and continuous attachment). Positive career effects significantly predicted continuous attachment, whereas social support/career networking positively predicted overall psychological attachment and affective and normative attachment. Career meaningfulness was found to explain higher levels of overall and affective psychological attachment. Conclusion: The findings contribute new insights into the construct of career navigation and career well-being attributes and extend research on the antecedents of psychological attachment in the new normal working space, characterised by remote working and technology.https://ajcd.africa/index.php/ajcd/article/view/48post covid-19 career spacenew normal working contextremote workingcareer well-beingcareer agilitycareer navigationpsychological attachmentorganisational commitment
spellingShingle Ingrid L. Potgieter
Melinde Coetzee
Nadia Ferreira
Psychological attachment in the new normal working context: Influence of career navigation and career well-being attributes
African Journal of Career Development
post covid-19 career space
new normal working context
remote working
career well-being
career agility
career navigation
psychological attachment
organisational commitment
title Psychological attachment in the new normal working context: Influence of career navigation and career well-being attributes
title_full Psychological attachment in the new normal working context: Influence of career navigation and career well-being attributes
title_fullStr Psychological attachment in the new normal working context: Influence of career navigation and career well-being attributes
title_full_unstemmed Psychological attachment in the new normal working context: Influence of career navigation and career well-being attributes
title_short Psychological attachment in the new normal working context: Influence of career navigation and career well-being attributes
title_sort psychological attachment in the new normal working context influence of career navigation and career well being attributes
topic post covid-19 career space
new normal working context
remote working
career well-being
career agility
career navigation
psychological attachment
organisational commitment
url https://ajcd.africa/index.php/ajcd/article/view/48
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AT nadiaferreira psychologicalattachmentinthenewnormalworkingcontextinfluenceofcareernavigationandcareerwellbeingattributes