The mediating role of subjective career success on the relationship between different types of capital, well-being and unethical work behaviour

PURPOSE: This study investigates the mediating role of subjective career success (SCS) in the relationship between different types of capital, general well-being (GWB) and unethical work behaviour (UWB), drawing on "conservation of resources theory (CRT)", "social resources theory (SRT)", and "human capital theory (HCT)". DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Using convenience sampling, data were collected via a questionnaire from 607 nurses working in public hospitals in Turkey and analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). FINDINGS: The results indicate that psychological capital (PC), human capital (HC), and cultural capital (CC) positively influence SCS, which in turn positively affects GWB and negatively impacts UWB. Additionally, SCS significantly mediates the relationships between PC, HC, and CC, and both GWB and UWB. However, social capital (SC) was not found to have a significant direct or indirect effect on SCS, GWB, or UWB. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: As the data were collected from only eight hospitals in the Marmara region means the findings should be interpreted with caution. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: By integrating three different theories, this study examines the mediating role of SCS between different types of capital and the GWB and UWB of employees. Additionally, the study introduces CC as an underutilised antecedent of SCS. Besides employee GWB, the study also investigates another possible consequence of SCS, namely UWB, which is a relatively under-researched outcome of SCS. Finally, the study is conducted in the context of hospitals in a developing country.