Character strengths, meaning in life, personal goal, and career adaptability among impoverished college students: A chain-mediating model

BACKGROUND: Career adaptability is an important building block for career success. Research on the career adaptability of disadvantaged students is therefore essential. The study aimed to explores the impact mechanism of career adaptability among impoverished students. METHODS: Using the Character Strengths Questionnaire, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Personal Goal Scale and the Career Adaptability Scale, 1119 impoverished college students were surveyed. RESULTS: The results revealed that character strengths can not only positively predict career adaptability, but also indirectly affect career adaptability of impoverished students through the chain mediation meaning in life and personal goal. The results showed the mechanism of character strengths on the career adaptability among impoverished students. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that meaning in life along with personal goal can enhance the positive impact of character strengths on career adaptability. These findings have implications for the practice of career counseling for impoverished college students.