Career adaptability in higher vocational education: examining crossover effects from headteachers to students

Purpose To enhance the understanding of the antecedents of students' career adaptability, this study employs the crossover model to explore the potential transfer of career adaptability from headteachers to students and the underlying mechanisms involved. Design/methodology/approach This study examined the proposed moderated mediation model using matched survey data collected from 37 headteachers and 1,598 students in Chinese higher vocational colleges. Findings Headteachers’ career adaptability is positively related to students’ career adaptability via students’ psychological capital. An increased frequency of headteacher–student interactions strengthened the indirect relationship between headteachers' career adaptability and students' career adaptability. Originality/value The findings suggest that, under certain conditions, headteachers’ career adaptability could be transferred to students via students’ psychological capital.