While scholars have focused on exploring what predicts subjective career success (SCS), we built on conservation of resources theory to study SCS not only as the ultimate outcome but also as a resource for achieving further valued work outcomes. To this end, we analyzed the gain spiral between SCS, work engagement, and creativity (SCS → work engagement → creativity → SCS) in a four-wave longitudinal design (one-year intervals). Based on a sample of N = 1228 German academic scientists, we conducted a cross-lagged panel model analysis. As expected, SCS showed positive time-lagged effects on work engagement, and work engagement showed positive time-lagged effects on creativity. However, creativity showed no time-lagged effects on SCS. From a series of exploratory multigroup analyses, this pattern of results emerged as robust across sociodemographic and work-related variables. The results help to further our understanding of how SCS functions as a resource.
Reis et al. (Sat,) studied this question.