Unpacking teachers’ work design behaviors: latent profiles of job crafting and their relation with calling and PERMA +4 well-being

This study used a person-centered approach to examine links between teachers’ job crafting, calling, and work-related well-being. Among 508 teachers, Latent Profile Analysis identified three profiles: Challenges and Resources Seeking Crafters (54.7%), Balanced Crafters (27.8%), and Demands and Challenges Avoidant Crafters (17.5%). Meaning and dedication to teaching significantly predicted profile membership, whereas occupational identity centrality did not. Teachers with stronger meaning/dedication were more likely to belong to the approach-oriented profile and less likely to the avoidant profile. Well-being differed across profiles: approach-oriented crafters reported the highest PERMA +4 well-being, balanced crafters moderate levels, and avoidant crafters the lowest. No differences emerged in economic security. Findings highlight the importance of proactive job crafting and show that meaning and dedication, rather than identity centrality, are the most behaviorally relevant aspects of calling. The study extends person-centered research and integrates job crafting with the PERMA +4 framework to better understand teacher flourishing.