Role of occupational self-efficacy and professional identity as mediators in the relationship between person-job fit and career sustainability among teachers

Introduction Career sustainability has become increasingly important for teachers to maintain long-term professional engagement and effectiveness. This study examined the serial mediating roles of occupational self-efficacy and professional identity in the relationship between person-job fit and career sustainability among teachers. Methods The study employed a correlational survey design. A total of 390 teachers working in Turkiye participated in the study. Data were collected using the Career Sustainability Scale, the Person-Job Fit Scale, the Occupational Self-efficacy Scale, and the Perceived Professional Identity Scale. We tested the research hypotheses using a serial mediation analysis with Hayes’ PROCESS Macro Model 6. Results The findings show positive and significant relationships among person-job fit, occupational self-efficacy, professional identity, and career sustainability. Although the direct effect of person-job fit on career sustainability is not statistically significant, the indirect effects via occupational self-efficacy and professional identity are significant. The serial mediation analysis further shows that person-job fit is related to teachers’ occupational self-efficacy, which may, in turn, be related to their professional identity and, consequently, to career sustainability. Conclusion The findings indicate a significant indirect relationship between person-job fit and teachers’ career sustainability, mediated by occupational self-efficacy and professional identity. These findings highlight the importance of holistically considering person-job fit, occupational self-efficacy, and professional identity for teacher career sustainability.