The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Gamze Dur; Gülcan Gencer; Ayşen Mert; Efe Erdem İncesu; Ada Nur Durgut; Ayşe Buse Karaca; Celal Cankoru; Cemre Egüz; Ceren Tosun; Elif Satılmış; Melike Akgül; Selin Sert

doi:10.18521/ktd.1986618

The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: We evaluated professional commitment, general self-efficacy, perceived change in motivation, and self-rated academic performance among medical students from all six years of training and examined their interrelationships and associations with selected student characteristics.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 545 of 1,226 eligible students in years 1–6 at one Turkish medical school. Commitment to Profession of Medicine Scale (CPMS) and General Self-Efficacy Scale–Turkish Form (GSE) total scores were used. Perceived change in motivation was assessed with one researcher-developed three-category item; academic performance was self-rated in a free-text 0–100 field (valid n = 536). Optional free-text explanations were used only for descriptive context. Analyses used Pearson’s chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H, Spearman correlation, simultaneous multiple linear regression, and within-family false discovery rate (FDR) correction.

Results: Of 545 participants, 349 (64.0%) were female. Median CPMS and GSE scores were 35 (IQR 29–39) and 61 (IQR 53–67), respectively. A perceived decrease in motivation was reported by 223 students (40.9%); the three-category distribution differed by educational phase (q = 0.001; Cramér’s V = 0.173). The gender difference in CPMS did not meet the FDR threshold (raw p = 0.047; q = 0.053). CPMS and GSE were positively correlated (ρ = 0.347; 95% CI 0.264–0.425; q < 0.001). In adjusted models, sixth-year status and non-voluntary choice of medical school were associated with lower CPMS. Female gender was associated with lower GSE, whereas self-rated academic performance and CPMS were positively associated with GSE.

Conclusion: Professional commitment was lowest in the final year, and a perceived decrease in motivation was more frequent during clinical training. These cross-sectional findings support monitoring and targeted support at major educational transitions, especially the final year, but do not establish within-student decline or causality. Multicenter longitudinal studies using validated motivation measures and institutional academic records are needed.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Services and Systems (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Gamze Dur ^*
0000-0003-0073-4429
Türkiye

Gülcan Gencer
0000-0002-3543-041X
Türkiye

Ayşen Mert
0000-0002-0933-706X
Türkiye

Efe Erdem İncesu
0009-0002-6985-2765
Türkiye

Ada Nur Durgut
0009-0002-8133-6296
Türkiye

Ayşe Buse Karaca
0009-0001-8536-5820
Türkiye

Celal Cankoru
0009-0001-1165-2034
Türkiye

Cemre Egüz
0009-0004-8112-1281
Türkiye

Ceren Tosun
0009-0009-2076-3762
Türkiye

Elif Satılmış
0009-0006-2527-996X
Türkiye

Melike Akgül
0009-0006-2914-4181
Türkiye

Selin Sert
0009-0009-3099-6818
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 27, 2026

Submission Date

July 4, 2026

Acceptance Date

October 4, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 18 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1986618

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA87WW48KF

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Dur, G., Gencer, G., Mert, A., İncesu, E. E., Durgut, A. N., Karaca, A. B., Cankoru, C., Egüz, C., Tosun, C., Satılmış, E., Akgül, M., & Sert, S. (2026). The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study. Konuralp Medical Journal, 18(3), 223-232. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1986618

AMA

1.Dur G, Gencer G, Mert A, et al. The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study. Konuralp Medical Journal. 2026;18(3):223-232. doi:10.18521/ktd.1986618

Chicago

Dur, Gamze, Gülcan Gencer, Ayşen Mert, et al. 2026. “The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study”. Konuralp Medical Journal 18 (3): 223-32. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1986618.

EndNote

Dur G, Gencer G, Mert A, İncesu EE, Durgut AN, Karaca AB, Cankoru C, Egüz C, Tosun C, Satılmış E, Akgül M, Sert S (October 1, 2026) The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study. Konuralp Medical Journal 18 3 223–232.

IEEE

[1]G. Dur et al., “The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study”, Konuralp Medical Journal, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 223–232, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.18521/ktd.1986618.

ISNAD

Dur, Gamze - Gencer, Gülcan - Mert, Ayşen - İncesu, Efe Erdem - Durgut, Ada Nur - Karaca, Ayşe Buse - Cankoru, Celal et al. “The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study”. Konuralp Medical Journal 18/3 (October 1, 2026): 223-232. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1986618.

JAMA

1.Dur G, Gencer G, Mert A, İncesu EE, Durgut AN, Karaca AB, Cankoru C, Egüz C, Tosun C, Satılmış E, Akgül M, Sert S. The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study. Konuralp Medical Journal. 2026;18:223–232.

MLA

Dur, Gamze, et al. “The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study”. Konuralp Medical Journal, vol. 18, no. 3, Oct. 2026, pp. 223-32, doi:10.18521/ktd.1986618.

Vancouver

1.Gamze Dur, Gülcan Gencer, Ayşen Mert, Efe Erdem İncesu, Ada Nur Durgut, Ayşe Buse Karaca, Celal Cankoru, Cemre Egüz, Ceren Tosun, Elif Satılmış, Melike Akgül, Selin Sert. The Relationship Between Professional Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation Among Medical Students: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study. Konuralp Medical Journal. 2026 Oct. 1;18(3):223-32. doi:10.18521/ktd.1986618