How self-efficacy shapes professional identity: the mediating role of meaning in life and self-esteem in pre-service physical education teachers

BACKGROUND: Professional identity is a crucial psychological construct that shapes pre-service physical education (PE) teachers' academic engagement, persistence, and future career commitment. However, limited research has examined the psychological mechanisms that foster the development of professional identity in this population. This study explores how self-efficacy contributes to the formation of professional identity among PE pre-service teachers, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of meaning in life and self-esteem. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 465 PE pre-service teachers. Data on self-efficacy, meaning in life, self-esteem, and professional identity were collected through validated self-report questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the direct and indirect effects of self-efficacy on professional identity and to test the mediating roles of meaning in life and self-esteem. RESULTS: The findings revealed that self-efficacy was positively associated with professional identity. Additionally, meaning in life and self-esteem were found to mediate this relationship. Specifically, self-efficacy was linked to higher levels of professional identity through both independent mediating effects of meaning in life and self-esteem and a chain mediation effect involving both variables. These findings provide insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying the development of professional identity among pre-service PE teachers. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the psychological pathways through which self-efficacy shapes professional identity in pre-service PE teachers. Enhancing teacher training programs to foster self-efficacy, promote a sense of meaning, and strengthen self-esteem may be critical for developing a stable and positive professional identity. These insights provide practical implications for improving teacher education and reducing attrition in the field of physical education.