Challenge or Threat? Proposing and Testing a Career Shock Coping Model
Journal of Career Development, vol. 51, pp. 696–716
Abstract
Career shocks can significantly impact individuals’ career development. We propose that how a career shock affects career development depends on how people appraise it. Specifically, our Career Shock Coping (CSC) model proposes that, dependent on personal characteristics, individuals differ in the extent to which they appraise career shocks as challenging and/or threatening. Challenge and threat appraisals inspire approach- and avoidance-oriented career behaviors, respectively, which differentially relate to career-related outcomes. A two-wave study was conducted among medical students ( N = 279) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic as a career shock. Supporting our CSC model, core self-evaluation (CSE) related negatively to threat appraisal and threat appraisal related positively to avoidance-oriented career behavior. Avoidance-oriented career behavior related positively to career decision-making stress. The relations between CSE, challenge appraisal, approach-oriented career behavior, and career decision-making stress were not significant. The findings have implications for career shocks research and career counseling practice.
Authors 5
-
Daan A. H. Fris corresponding
Erasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital · University of Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Department of Neonatal & Pediatric Intensive Care, Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Erasmus Medical Center – Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center – Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
-
Affiliation as printed
Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
-
Affiliation as printed
Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
-
Erasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Department of Neonatal & Pediatric Intensive Care, Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Erasmus Medical Center – Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
-
Anne P.J. de Pagter Aachen Department of Pediatrics Division of Stem Cell Transplantation Department of Quality & Patient Safety
Leiden University Medical Center · Erasmus MC · Willem-Alexander Kinderziekenhuis
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation, Willem-Alexander Children’s Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
Department of Quality and Patient Safety, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Quality and Patient Safety, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Stem Cell Transplantation, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
Cited by 11 stored of 11
11 results
No patents citing this paper on Lens.org (checked 2026-10-11).