“I get by with a little help from my friends”: a sequential mediation model of prosocial motivation and career outcomes

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Authors: Joohan Lee, Beatrice Van der Heijden, Huong Le, Connie Zheng, Amlan Haque
Cited by: 1
References: 55

Abstract

Purpose Drawing on the Social Exchange Theory, we developed and examined a sequential model about the effects of prosocial motivation on turnover intentions and career commitment via the sequential mediators of social support and career networking. Design/methodology/approach We collected three waves of time-lagged data from a sample of 261 full-time employees. Findings Our results confirm the fact that through the sequential mediating roles of social support and career networking, prosocial motivation negatively influenced turnover intentions while it positively affected career commitment. Originality/value This study contributes to the social exchange and careers literature, shedding light on the mechanisms through which employees' prosocial motivation impacts their job and career-related outcomes. We conclude by outlining the theoretical contributions and practical implications of these findings.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior Employer Branding and e-HRM Higher Education and Employability

Publication details

Journal / source
Career Development International
Publisher
Emerald
Volume
31
Issue
8
Pages
231–247
Publication date
15 May 2026
Language
EN