Critical Consciousness and Decent Work: Evidence of its Moderating Role in Psychology of Working Theory

From the perspective of Psychology of Working Theory (PWT), critical consciousness (CC) is hypothesized to mitigate the effects of contextual barriers on individual variables and access to decent work. This study examined the moderating effects of the dimensions of CC (Critical Reflection, Critical Motivation, and Critical Action) on the relationships between contextual variables (economic constraints and marginalization), individual variables (volition and career adaptability), and access to decent work in a sample of Brazilian workers. The sample comprised 555 participants, predominantly women (62.5%), with a mean age of 35.8 years (SD = 14.3). Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and conditional moderation. The results indicated that: (a) Critical Reflection intensified the negative effects of contextual barriers, suggesting an ambivalent role for this dimension; (b) Critical Motivation exerted a protective effect, attenuating the influence of economic constraints on decent work; and (c) Critical Action demonstrated ambivalent effects, enhancing adaptability in the face of constraints but also amplifying the impact of marginalization on volition. Explanations for these findings are discussed, along with study limitations and recommendations for future research to further investigate the role of CC in PWT, both in Brazil and internationally.