Dark triad traits and career adaptability: the mediating role of political skill

This study investigated the mechanism through which the Dark Triad traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy) relate to career adaptability. While previous research primarily focused on the role of bright traits in enhancing career adaptability, the potential benefits of dark traits on career adaptability have often been overlooked. By integrating career construction theory (CCT) and conservation of resources theory (COR), this study proposed that adaptive readiness, operationalized in terms of the Dark Triad traits, would be related to career adaptability through political skill, offering a novel perspective on how dark traits, like the Dark Triad, can be related to career adaptability. We conducted a three-wave survey (N = 307) with two-week intervals between each wave. In the first wave, we collected demographic information and measured the Dark Triad traits. In the second wave, we assessed political skill, and in the third wave, we measured career adaptability. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Additionally, a bootstrap test with 10,000 resamples was employed to examine the mediating role of political skill. The Dark Triad traits were significantly linked to career adaptability through political skill. Specifically, Machiavellianism and narcissism were positively associated with career adaptability, while psychopathy showed a negative association. Political skill acted as a mediator in the relationships between the Dark Triad traits and career adaptability. The relationship between the Dark Triad traits and career adaptability manifests both positively and negatively, with political skill serving as a key mediator. These findings extend CCT by revealing the mechanism connecting career readiness and career adaptability, grounded in COR. Additionally, this study suggests that researchers should not limit themselves to exploring strategies for enhancing career adaptability through positive traits but should also consider the potential of negative traits.