Career adaptability in higher vocational education: examining crossover effects from headteachers to students

PurposeTo enhance the understanding of the antecedents of students' career adaptability, this study employs the crossover model to explore the potential transfer of career adaptability from headteachers to students and the underlying mechanisms involved.Design/methodology/approachThis study examined the proposed moderated mediation model using matched survey data collected from 37 headteachers and 1,598 students in Chinese higher vocational colleges.FindingsHeadteachers' career adaptability is positively related to students' career adaptability via students' psychological capital. An increased frequency of headteacher-student interactions strengthened the indirect relationship between headteachers' career adaptability and students' career adaptability.Originality/valueThe findings suggest that, under certain conditions, headteachers' career adaptability could be transferred to students via students' psychological capital.