Title: Role of career aspirations amid proactive personality and career growth with intention to quit among IT professionals: a moderated mediation analysis

Authors: Sudhakar R. Kulkarni; P. Nagesh; Sindu Bharath; T.S. Nanjundeswaraswamy

Addresses: Faculty of Management Studies, JSS Centre for Management Studies, JSS Science and Technology University, Mysore, India ' Faculty of Management Studies, JSS Centre for Management Studies, JSS Science and Technology University, Mysore, India ' Faculty of Management Studies, JSS Centre for Management Studies, JSS Science and Technology University, Mysore, India ' Faculty of Management Studies, JSS Academy of Technical Education, Bangalore, India

Abstract: The study explores the nexus between proactive personality (PP) and career growth (CG). Also, to analyse the mediating effect of career aspirations (CA) among PP and CG with intention to quit (IQ) (moderator) as a boundary condition. The sampling unit consists of 318 professionals working in information technology firms. Antecedents of study variables were validated using exploratory data analysis. The role of CA (mediating) was explored through multiple regression analysis. Further, the role of intention to quit (as a moderator) was examined. The results show that PP has an impact on CG and CA, and CA on CG. CA does not mediate the relationship between PP and CG. The IQ does not moderate the relationship between CA and CG. The outcome proposes psychological and behavioural determinants that act as a key driver to meet an individual's CG. Also, explains the role of intention to quit, the psychological mode of employees.

Keywords: personnel management; human capital; turnover; factor models; human development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWE.2026.153237

International Journal of Environment, Workplace and Employment, 2026 Vol.10 No.1, pp.1 - 20

Received: 16 Nov 2025
Accepted: 21 Jan 2026
Published online: 29 Apr 2026 *

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