Pre-service teachers' self-efficacy mediates the relationship between career adaptability and career optimism

Abstract

Teachers' self-efficacy is positively associated with job satisfaction and commitment. What is less clear in the teacher education literature is to what extent pre-service teachers' self-efficacy influences and is influenced by other psychological factors associated with career engagement. The current research contributes to understanding the complex of interrelations by demonstrating that pre-service teachers' self-efficacy directly predicts their career optimism and mediates the effect of career adaptability on career optimism. With regard to pre-service teacher education, these findings are significant because, like self-efficacy, career adaptability and career optimism are amenable to promotion via learning experiences. Thus, professional learning activities may be tailored to focus on the development of self-efficacy to indirectly enhance pre-service teachers' career adaptability and career optimism.