Uncovering a suppressor effect in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations: a chain mediation model among vocational undergraduates

PurposeThis study investigates the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations among vocational undergraduate students, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of educational flow experience and active coping style.MethodsData were collected through a questionnaire...

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Main Authors: Zerui Huang, Ismi Arif Ismail, Akmar Hayati Ahmad Ghazali, Jeffrey Lawrence D'Silva, Haslinda Abdullah, Zeqing Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1461983/full
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author Zerui Huang
Zerui Huang
Ismi Arif Ismail
Akmar Hayati Ahmad Ghazali
Jeffrey Lawrence D'Silva
Haslinda Abdullah
Zeqing Zhang
Zeqing Zhang
author_facet Zerui Huang
Zerui Huang
Ismi Arif Ismail
Akmar Hayati Ahmad Ghazali
Jeffrey Lawrence D'Silva
Haslinda Abdullah
Zeqing Zhang
Zeqing Zhang
author_sort Zerui Huang
collection DOAJ
description PurposeThis study investigates the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations among vocational undergraduate students, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of educational flow experience and active coping style.MethodsData were collected through a questionnaire survey administered to 693 vocational undergraduate students at a university in Guangdong Province, China. The instruments used included the Positive Psychological Capital Scale (PPS), Career Expectation Scale (CES), Educational Flow Scale (EduFlow-2), and Coping Style Scale (CSS).Results(1) Psychological capital was found to exert a significant positive influence on employment expectations, educational flow experience, and active coping style. (2) Both educational flow experience and active coping style played significant mediating roles in a chain mediation model. Furthermore, a suppressor effect was identified in the mediation process.ConclusionThis study confirms the significant influence of psychological capital on employment expectations and elucidates its underlying mechanisms. It highlights the critical roles of educational flow and active coping in shaping students' employment outlook, offering practical insights for enhancing employment outcomes among vocational undergraduates.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-9787236fa05c44dbba3dd9e8e3bb31822025-08-20T03:31:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14619831461983Uncovering a suppressor effect in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations: a chain mediation model among vocational undergraduatesZerui Huang0Zerui Huang1Ismi Arif Ismail2Akmar Hayati Ahmad Ghazali3Jeffrey Lawrence D'Silva4Haslinda Abdullah5Zeqing Zhang6Zeqing Zhang7Institute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, MalaysiaSchool of Culture and Communication, Guangdong Business and Technology University, Zhaoqing, ChinaFaculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, MalaysiaFaculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, MalaysiaInstitute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, MalaysiaInstitute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, MalaysiaInstitute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, MalaysiaSchool of Culture and Communication, Guangdong Business and Technology University, Zhaoqing, ChinaPurposeThis study investigates the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations among vocational undergraduate students, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of educational flow experience and active coping style.MethodsData were collected through a questionnaire survey administered to 693 vocational undergraduate students at a university in Guangdong Province, China. The instruments used included the Positive Psychological Capital Scale (PPS), Career Expectation Scale (CES), Educational Flow Scale (EduFlow-2), and Coping Style Scale (CSS).Results(1) Psychological capital was found to exert a significant positive influence on employment expectations, educational flow experience, and active coping style. (2) Both educational flow experience and active coping style played significant mediating roles in a chain mediation model. Furthermore, a suppressor effect was identified in the mediation process.ConclusionThis study confirms the significant influence of psychological capital on employment expectations and elucidates its underlying mechanisms. It highlights the critical roles of educational flow and active coping in shaping students' employment outlook, offering practical insights for enhancing employment outcomes among vocational undergraduates.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1461983/fullpsychological capitalemployment expectationseducational flow experienceactive coping stylevocational undergraduatessuppressor effect
spellingShingle Zerui Huang
Zerui Huang
Ismi Arif Ismail
Akmar Hayati Ahmad Ghazali
Jeffrey Lawrence D'Silva
Haslinda Abdullah
Zeqing Zhang
Zeqing Zhang
Uncovering a suppressor effect in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations: a chain mediation model among vocational undergraduates
Frontiers in Psychology
psychological capital
employment expectations
educational flow experience
active coping style
vocational undergraduates
suppressor effect
title Uncovering a suppressor effect in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations: a chain mediation model among vocational undergraduates
title_full Uncovering a suppressor effect in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations: a chain mediation model among vocational undergraduates
title_fullStr Uncovering a suppressor effect in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations: a chain mediation model among vocational undergraduates
title_full_unstemmed Uncovering a suppressor effect in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations: a chain mediation model among vocational undergraduates
title_short Uncovering a suppressor effect in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations: a chain mediation model among vocational undergraduates
title_sort uncovering a suppressor effect in the relationship between psychological capital and employment expectations a chain mediation model among vocational undergraduates
topic psychological capital
employment expectations
educational flow experience
active coping style
vocational undergraduates
suppressor effect
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1461983/full
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