An individual-level analysis of academic staff’s subjective well-being and career success: examining the mediating role of psychological capital and the moderating effects of gender, generation type and educational level

This study investigates the determinants of Academic Career Success (ACS) and Subjective Well-Being (SWB) among academics, positioning Psychological Capital (PsyCap) as a central mediating variable. Work–Family Conflict (WFC) and Self-Directed Career Management (SDCM) are examined as predictors, while gender, generational cohort (gen-type), and educational level are tested as potential moderators. The sample consists of 146 academic staff from public and private universities in Indonesia, all with at least one year of professional experience. The findings strongly support the hypothesized indirect effects, revealing that PsyCap significantly mediates the relationships between WFC, SDCM, and ACS and exerts a direct positive influence on ACS. Gender, gen-type, and educational level do not moderate the relationships with SWB or ACS; however, they directly and significantly affect ACS. Academics with higher qualifications and older generational cohorts achieve greater ACS. While no gender differences emerge in ACS, notable disparities are found in SWB—female academics report significantly higher well-being than males. These results highlight PsyCap as a strategic resource for boosting academic career success and underscore the importance of demographic factors in shaping career trajectories. Strengthening PsyCap may serve as a high-impact intervention for enhancing both professional achievement and personal well-being in academia.