Social Indicators Research
Volume 139, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 237-257

Cognitive Cultural Intelligence and Life Satisfaction of Migrant Workers: The Roles of Career Engagement and Social Injustice (Article)

Le H.* , Jiang Z. , Nielsen I.
  • a Department of Management, Deakin Business School, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
  • b Department of Employment Relations and Human Resources, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
  • c Department of Management, Deakin Business School, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia

Abstract

This paper examines the mediating effect of career engagement on the relationship between cognitive cultural intelligence (CQ) and life satisfaction among international migrant workers in Australia. It also examines the moderating effect of perceived social injustice on the cognitive CQ–career engagement relationship, as well as on the indirect cognitive CQ–life satisfaction relationship via career engagement. Using survey data from four hundred and sixty-two migrant workers in Australia, it was found that cognitive CQ was positively related to life satisfaction and that career engagement mediated this relationship. Social injustice moderated the impact of cognitive CQ on career engagement such that the impact was stronger among those perceiving a higher rather than a lower level of social injustice. Furthermore, the indirect effect of cognitive CQ on life satisfaction via career engagement was also stronger for those perceiving higher social injustice. These findings provide new insights regarding the antecedents of life satisfaction as well as reveal a vocationally relevant mechanism underlying the relationship between cognitive CQ and life satisfaction. The results inform potential practical strategies to enhance the career progression and life satisfaction of international migrant workers. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Author Keywords

Life satisfaction Social injustice Cognitive cultural intelligence Career engagement Trait activation theory Migrant workers

Index Keywords

social justice survey theoretical study Australia migrant worker life satisfaction
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84976294231&doi=10.1007%2fs11205-016-1393-3&partnerID=40&md5=64376262fe36cca905d4c5bdb530b688
DOI: 10.1007/s11205-016-1393-3
ISSN: 03038300
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English