Effects of Family Social Capital on Career Advancement: Exploring the Mechanisms

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of structural, cognitive, and relational family social capital on employees’ career advancement through the mechanism of family-to-work enrichment (FWE). Survey data from 252 full-time employees working in public institutions and government departments in China were gathered to examine the proposed relationships. The findings show that FWE significantly mediated the positive relationships between all three types of family social capital and career advancement. In addition, the effects of structural and cognitive family social capital, but not relational family social capital, on FWE were stronger when perceptions of organizational politics were low (versus high). These findings highlight family social capital as a key source of non-work support that is instrumental to individuals’ career development. More importantly, this research further pinpointed the role of organizational politics as an important moderator that can influence the resource-enrichment dynamics at play in a collectivistic culture.