Influence of economic and academic barriers on perception of future decent work: A moderated mediation model of work volition and social support

This study aimed to investigate the influence of contextual constraints on the perception of future decent work among Korean emerging adults and to identify potential coping strategies to overcome these constraints. By applying the Psychology of Working Theory in the cultural context of Korea, this study investigated the barriers imposed by economic and academic status and the role of social support in addressing the influence of these constraints. Data were collected from 371 emerging adults studying at Korean universities that were ranked below the top 30 in the nation. The results revealed a significant correlation between economic constraints and marginalization experiences based on academic status. In addition, both economic and academic constraints were negatively associated with perceptions of future decent work. However, the relationship was only significant via work volition, whereas the direct association was insignificant. Finally, only the relationship between marginalization and work volition and the indirect relationship between marginalization and the perception of future decent work via work volition were moderated by social support; however, the moderation patterns were inconsistent with the assumptions of the PWT. The implications of the findings are discussed, along with suggestions for future research directions. •Barriers imposed by economic and academic status can be identified as contextual constraints that emerging adults confront.•Economic constraint and experience of marginalization based on academic status were significantly correlated.•Both contextual constraints were negatively associated to perception of future decent work via work volition.•Social support moderated the relationship between marginalization based on academic status and work volition.•Social support moderated the indirect relation from marginalization to perception of future decent work via work volition.