The Effect of Career Flexibility on Career Adaptability: The Moderating Role of Meaning of Work

This study investigated whether the meaning of work has a moderating effect on the relationship between career flexibility and career adaptability among adults in their 30s and 40s who had experienced job turnover within the past 6 months. In the moderating effect analysis, it was found that the meaning of work significantly moderated the relationship between career flexibility and career adaptability in a negative direction. Specifically, when the meaning of work was low or moderate, career flexibility was positively associated with career adaptability; however, when the meaning of work was high, this relationship was weakened. This study confirmed that the meaning of work is a psychological context variable in the relationship between career flexibility and career adaptability. This study suggested that career counseling and career education should take into account not only career flexibility and career adaptability, but also the meaning of work.