“I get by with a little help from my friends”: a sequential mediation model of prosocial motivation and career outcomes

Purpose
Drawing on the Social Exchange Theory, we developed and examined a sequential model about the effects of prosocial motivation on turnover intentions and career commitment via the sequential mediators of social support and career networking.

Design/methodology/approach
We collected three waves of time-lagged data from a sample of 261 full-time employees.

Findings
Our results confirm the fact that through the sequential mediating roles of social support and career networking, prosocial motivation negatively influenced turnover intentions while it positively affected career commitment.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the social exchange and careers literature, shedding light on the mechanisms through which employees' prosocial motivation impacts their job and career-related outcomes. We conclude by outlining the theoretical contributions and practical implications of these findings.