Psychological Capital and Innovative Work Behavior Among Pakistani Healthcare Professionals: Serial Mediation Through Career Adaptability and Work Engagement Based on the Career Construction Model of Adaptation

Background: This research explored how psychological capital (PsyCap) is associated with innovative work behavior (IWB) through the serial mediation of career adaptability (CA) and work engagement (WE) among Pakistani healthcare practitioners. The study was grounded in the Career Construction Model of Adaptation (CCMA). Methods: Data were collected from 355 healthcare practitioners. Model 6 of the PROCESS macro with bias-corrected bootstrapping was used to examine the proposed serial mediation model while controlling for the effects of gender, age, tenure, and professional category. Results: The total indirect effect through both serial mediators was statistically significant, suggesting that CA and WE help explain how PsyCap is associated with IWB. In line with the CCMA, the findings support a sequential pattern of associations whereby psychological resources (adaptive readiness) are associated with adaptable career functioning (adaptability resources), which in turn is linked with motivational engagement at work (adapting responses), and this state of engagement is subsequently associated with innovation-oriented actions (adaptation results). Conclusions: This study applies and extends the CCMA by examining its adaptation process in the healthcare sector, as well as conceptualizing WE as an adapting response and IWB as a behavioral adaptation outcome. The findings provide practical insights by highlighting the potential value of targeted interventions that strengthen PsyCap, CA, and WE to support IWB while also fostering the career adaptation process in healthcare organizations.