Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5559/di.00.0.00
Personality and Job Satisfaction of Teachers: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy and Work Engagement
Maja Parmač Kovačić
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Irena Burić
; University of Zadar, Department of Psychology, Zadar, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
This study examined whether self-efficacy and work engagement
mediate the relationship between personality traits and job satisfaction
among teachers. A sample of 133 teachers (85% female)
from 17 Croatian grammar schools participated at two time points.
At the first time point, they completed measures of the Big
Five personality traits, teacher self-efficacy, and work engagement;
two months later, they reported job satisfaction. Work engagement
mediated the relationship between all five personality
traits and job satisfaction: higher levels of extraversion, agreeableness,
conscientiousness, and openness to experience, and
lower negative emotionality were associated with greater engagement
and ultimately higher job satisfaction. Teacher self-efficacy
mediated the relationship between extraversion, agreeableness,
and conscientiousness and job satisfaction. Crucially,
serial mediation was also found for extraversion, agreeableness,
and conscientiousness: higher trait levels were associated with
higher self-efficacy, which was associated with greater work
engagement and ultimately higher job satisfaction. The findings
highlight the joint role of self-efficacy and work engagement in
explaining how personality relates to teachers' job satisfaction.
Keywords
personality; teacher self-efficacy; work engagement
Hrčak ID:
351006
URI
Publication date:
13.9.2026.
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