Examining the mediating role of support resources in the self-efficacy and career satisfaction relationship among professional women in a developing economy

Abstract

This study explored the mediating role of perceived organisational support and social support in the relationship between self-efficacy and career satisfaction among professional women. The participants comprised a non-probability sample of 606 professional women (white = 62%; black women of colour = 38%; mean age = 35.41 years, SD = 8.39 years) in early adulthood and established career stage, employed in the financial, engineering and human resources fields. Professional women completed standardised measures of perceived organisational support, social support, self-efficacy, and career satisfaction. Mediation analysis results showed that perceived organisational support and social support improved the relationship between women’s self-efficacy and their career satisfaction. Support resources from the workplace peers, family, and significant others may promote the interaction between self-efficacy and the career satisfaction of professional women. Findings imply that there is a need for organisations to provide supportive initiatives to promote self-efficacious beliefs and career satisfaction among professional women.