Research Article

From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers

Number: Advanced Online Publication Early Pub Date: April 9, 2026

From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers

Abstract

Career advancement in teaching is a significant factor in teachers’ work motivation, influenced by changing educational conditions and the need for continuous development. This study examines the serial mediating role of career engagement and professional commitment in the relationship between teachers’ occupational self-efficacy and their work motivation. Given the ongoing changes in professional practices and education policies in Türkiye, examining teachers’ professional competence, motivation, and career orientations is particularly important. This quantitative study used convenience sampling with 214 teachers from the provinces of Bilecik, Eskişehir, and Karaman. The data were evaluated using IBM SPSS Statistics 24, including descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses. PROCESS Macro (model 6) was used to test the mediating effects. The analysis results showed that occupational self-efficacy positively affects work motivation, and that career engagement and professional commitment mediate this relationship serially. The mediating variables were found to significantly strengthen the effect of occupational self-efficacy on work motivation. By examining the interactions of occupational self-efficacy, career engagement, and professional commitment within a holistic framework, this study offers theoretical and practical contributions to the understanding of teachers’ professional development processes and work motivation. 

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this research was received from the Ethics Committee of Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University (Number:01.12.2022/102488/215-217). The research was carried out in accordance with the ethical rules.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Turkish and Social Sciences Education (Diğer)

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

April 9, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

December 31, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 16, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

APA
Demir, F., & Damar, A. (2026). From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers. Sakarya University Journal of Education, Advanced Online Publication, 154-170. https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1853002
AMA
1.Demir F, Damar A. From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers. SUJE. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication):154-170. doi:10.19126/suje.1853002
Chicago
Demir, Filiz, and Arif Damar. 2026. “From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers”. Sakarya University Journal of Education, no. Advanced Online Publication: 154-70. https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1853002.
EndNote
Demir F, Damar A (April 1, 2026) From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers. Sakarya University Journal of Education Advanced Online Publication 154–170.
IEEE
[1]F. Demir and A. Damar, “From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers”, SUJE, no. Advanced Online Publication, pp. 154–170, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.19126/suje.1853002.
ISNAD
Demir, Filiz - Damar, Arif. “From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers”. Sakarya University Journal of Education. Advanced Online Publication (April 1, 2026): 154-170. https://doi.org/10.19126/suje.1853002.
JAMA
1.Demir F, Damar A. From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers. SUJE. 2026;:154–170.
MLA
Demir, Filiz, and Arif Damar. “From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers”. Sakarya University Journal of Education, no. Advanced Online Publication, Apr. 2026, pp. 154-70, doi:10.19126/suje.1853002.
Vancouver
1.Filiz Demir, Arif Damar. From Self-Efficacy Beliefs to Work Motivation Through Career Engagement and Professional Commitment: A Study on Teachers. SUJE. 2026 Apr. 1;(Advanced Online Publication):154-70. doi:10.19126/suje.1853002