Omer Zambak
1
,
Huseyin Gazi Sonmez
2
,
Serpil Savasir Bas
3
1
Gümüşhane University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Coaching Education, Gümüşhane, Turkiye
2
Abdullah Gül University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Kayseri, Turkiye
3
Hitit University, Graduate School of Education, Çorum, Turkiye
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between professional beliefs and job finding anxiety of physical education teacher candidates who receive pedagogical formation education in the faculty of sport sciences and to reveal the differences according to certain demographic variables. The sample of the study consists of 320 students studying at Hitit University Faculty of Sport Sciences in the 2024-2025 academic year and selected by convenience sampling method. Personal Information Form, “Physical Education Teaching Vocational Belief Scale” and “Sport Sciences Students’ Job Finding Anxiety Scale” were used as data collection tools. The findings did not show a significant difference according to gender, department, class and national sportsmanship variables. However, anxiety about finding a job was found to be significantly higher in low-income students. In addition, it was found that the participants in the 18-20 age group had higher vocational belief and “value given to physical education” scores compared to other age groups. Students with a sporting age of seven years or more had higher levels of both job anxiety and professional belief. These findings reveal the importance of economic support, professional development programs, early motivational activities and mentoring practices to strengthen pre-service teachers’ professional beliefs and reduce their anxiety about finding a job.
Zambak, O., Sonmez, H. G., & Savasir Bas, S. (2025). Evaluation of the relationship between professional beliefs and job-seeking anxiety among Physical Education Teacher candidates . Journal of ROL Sport Sciences, 6(3), 603–622. https://doi.org/10.70736/jrolss.2040
📄Anderson, T. L., Valiauga, R., Tallo, C., Hong, C. B., Manoranjithan, S., Domingo, C., ... et al. (2025). Contributing factors to the rise in adolescent anxiety and associated mental health disorders: A narrative review of current literature. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 38(1), e70009. [Crossref]
📄Asan, S. (2023). Beden eğitimi öğretmeni adaylarının iş bulma kaygı düzeylerinin incelenmesi. Uluslararası Egzersiz Psikolojisi Dergisi, 5(1), 15–20. [Crossref]
📄Aslan, M., & Uğraş, S. (2021). Validity and reliability study of the Sports Sciences Students’ Job Finding Anxiety Scale. International Journal of Eurasian Education and Culture, 6(13), 1143–1170. [Crossref]
📄Aydın, E. (2017). Besyo öğrencilerinin öğrenim gördükleri bölüm ile umutsuzluk düzeyleri arasındaki ilişki. Journal of International Social Research, 10(49), 263-268. [Crossref]
📄Cabrita, T. M., Rosado, A. B., Leite, T. O., Serpa, S. O., & Sousa, P. M. (2014). The relationship between athletic identity and career decisions in athletes. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 26(4), 471–481. [Crossref]
📄Cai, Z., Zhu, J., & Tian, S. (2022). Preservice teachers’ teaching internship affects professional identity: Self-efficacy and learning engagement as mediators. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1070763. [Crossref]
📄Cen, S., Zhao, M., Wang, F., & Tang, L. (2025). Gender differences in the relationship between mental health and academic performance among undergraduate students at a medical school in Shanghai: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 731. [Crossref]
📄Chun, Y., Wendling, E., & Sagas, M. (2023). Identity work in athletes: A systematic review of the literature. Sports, 11(10), 203. [Crossref]
📄Crook, R., Coffee, P., Bank, C., Neely, K. C., Hartley, C., Haslam, C., … et al. (2025). Transitioning out of elite sport: The central role of groups in support experiences. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 72, 102873. [Crossref]
📄Çetinceli, K., & Tüzün, P. (2022). Üniversite öğrencilerinin işsizlik kaygısı, yaşam doyumu ve psikolojik iyi oluşları arasındaki ilişki. Current Perspectives in Social Sciences, 26(1), 21–30. [Crossref]
📄Çetinkaya, T., & Erbaş, M. K. (2025). Examination of the relationship between entrepreneurship and job finding anxiety of students studying in the department of sports sciences in terms of different variables. International Journal of Sport Culture and Science, 13(2), 207–217. [Crossref]
📄Del Pino, M. J., & Matud, M. P. (2024). Stress, mental symptoms and well-being in students: A gender analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1492324. [Crossref]
📄Demirci, M. A. (2020). Üniversite öğrencilerinin iş bulma kaygısının okula bağlılığa etkisi. In 2. Uluslararası İktisat, İşletme ve Sosyal Bilimler Kongresi (pp. 170–178).
📄Dursun, S., & Aytaç, S. S. (2009). Üniversite öğrencileri arasında işsizlik kaygısı. Uludağ Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 28(1), 71–84.
📄Dursun, S., & Şen, M. (2022). İktisadi ve idari bilimler fakültesi öğrencilerinin işsizlik kaygısı: Demografik faktörler ve psikolojik semptomlar açısından bir inceleme. Sosyal Güvenlik Dergisi, 12(2), 251–266. [Crossref]
📄Elgar, F. J., Pförtner, T. K., & Rothwell, D. (2024). Socioeconomic differences and global trends in youth wellbeing and emotional distress in 165 countries and territories. Health & Place, 89, 103322. [Crossref]
📄Erdem Coşgun, G. (2021). An investigation of professional identity development across student, novice and experienced EFL teachers: Their expectations and fears for the future [Doctoral dissertation, Middle East Technical University]. YÖK Tez Merkezi.
📄Ersoy-Kart, M., & Erdost, H. E. (2008). Unemployment worries among Turkish university students. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 36(3), 275–288. [Crossref]
📄Holden, J., Wagstaff, C. R., Wadey, R., & Brown, P. (2025). Exploring the barriers to athlete personal development within UK Olympic and Paralympic sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 72, 102966. [Crossref]
📄Houtin, L., Brun, C., Masetto, M., & Akinyemi, A. (2025). Analyzing top-level athletes’ activities to identify their transversal competencies for career transition. Sage Open, 15(2), 21582440251339665. [Crossref]
📄Ishkibayeva, M., Abdykhalykova, Z., Makhambetova, N., & Kabylzhanova, B. (2025). Professional identity formation in sports teachers: A multifactorial analysis. Retos, 67, 1125–1139. [Crossref]
📄İşlek, Y. (2018). Spor yöneticiliği bölümü öğrencilerinin işsizlik ile ilgili kaygılarının depresyon ve kaygı düzeyleri ile ilişkisi açısından incelenmesi. (Yüksek lisans tezi). Akdeniz Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Antalya.
📄Karacan Doğan, P., Doğan, İ., & Çetinkayalı, G. (2023). Spor bilimleri öğrencilerinin yapay zekaya yönelik tutumları ile iş bulma kaygıları arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi. Yalova Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 2(3), 174-189.
📄Karasar, N. (2005). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemi: Kavramlar, ilkeler, teknikler. Ankara: Nobel Yayınevi.
📄Kim, J. (2022). Job-seeking anxiety and job preparation behavior among undergraduates. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4), 2297. [Crossref]
📄Kim, J., Oh, J., & Rajaguru, V. (2022). Job-seeking anxiety and job preparation behavior of undergraduate students. Healthcare, 10(2), 288. [Crossref]
📄Koç, Ö. E., Bayramoğlu, G., & Koç, N. (2024). Genç nüfusta işsizlik kaygısı üzerine bir saha araştırması. Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 22(3), 73-92. [Crossref]
📄Kwak, Y. (2025). Job search anxiety and flourishing among university students. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 12211445. [Crossref]
📄Kwak, Y., Kim, Y., & Chae, H. (2025). Job search anxiety and flourishing among university students: The serial mediating effects of social support and strengths use. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 652. [Crossref]
📄Liu, Y., Wang, H., & Fan, S. (2025). Professional identity of female PE teachers in basic education in China. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 815. [Crossref]
📄Musayev, İ., & Akcan, H. K. (2022). Yüksek din öğrenimi gören öğrencilerin iş bulma kaygısı: Hakkâri Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi örneği. Türkiye Din Eğitimi Araştırmaları Dergisi, 13, 47-66. [Crossref]
📄Pryor, C. (2021). Perceptions of former collegiate athletes on career transition programs in the NCAA (Master’s thesis). Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
📄Sarıkol, E., & Hoşver, P. U. (2023). Spor bilimleri fakültesi öğrencilerinin iş bulma kaygı düzeylerinin çeşitli değişkenlere göre incelenmesi. Düzce Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(1), 106-111.
📄Sun, B., Zhu, F., Lin, S., Sun, J., Wu, Y., & Xiao, W. (2022). How is professional identity associated with teacher career satisfaction? A cross-sectional design to test the multiple mediating roles of psychological empowerment and work engagement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9009. [Crossref]
📄Sun, P., Ma, K., Xu, X., & Yan, L. (2025). How self-efficacy shapes professional identity: The mediating role of meaning in life and self-esteem in pre-service physical education teachers. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 1-13. [Crossref]
📄Surat, A., & Ceran, D. (2020). Üniversite öğrencilerinin işsizlik kaygısı. ISPEC International Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 4(3), 145–166. [Crossref]
📄Şahinler, Y. (2021). Covid-19 sürecinde spor bilimleri fakültesi öğrencilerinin belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük düzeylerinin incelenmesi. İnönü Üniversitesi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 8(2), 45-59.
📄Şenel, E., & Karakuş, K. (2022). Spor yükseköğretim kurumu öğrencilerinde uzaktan eğitime yönelik tutum ile iş bulma kaygısının bazı değişkenlere göre incelenmesi. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 11(2), 677-687.
📄Şengül, M. A. (2025). Spor bilimleri fakültesi öğrencilerinin iş bulma kaygı düzeylerinin incelenmesi. Spor Eğitimi ve Bilim, 1(1), 39-45.
📄Turhan, M. Ö., & Arslanboğa, R. (2022). Spor bilimleri fakültesindeki öğretmen adaylarının iş bulma kaygısı ve algılanan stres düzeylerinin incelenmesi. Mediterranean Journal of Sport Science, 5(4), 1138-1152. [Crossref]
📄Tutar, O. F., & Oner, B. (2023). Üniversite öğrencilerinin kariyer farkındalığı ile iş bulma kaygısı arasındaki ilişki. Journal of ROL Sport Sciences, 4(3), 1043–1058. [Crossref]
📄Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu. (2025, Temmuz 30). İşgücü istatistikleri, Haziran 2025 (Haber bülteni No: 54074). TÜİK. https://data.tuik.gov.tr
📄Uğraş, S., & Dindar, M. (2019). Beden eğitimi öğretmenliği mesleki inanç ölçeğinin Türk kültürüne uyarlanması. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 2(1), 23-34.
📄Varmus, M., Mičiak, M., Toman, D., Jastraban, M., Kuljovský, M., Sobol, J., ... et al., (2025). Athletes’ education for their successful future career after sports—Perspective of former athletes and potential employers. Administrative Sciences, 15(2), 46. [Crossref]
📄Vázquez, A. B., Pérez, L. D., Pacheco, L. C., & Flores, I. R. (2024). Becoming a secondary school teacher: Keys to a meaningful professional identity. Teaching and Teacher Education, 148, 104697. [Crossref]
📄Yang, M., Li, X., Qin, X., Tian, X., Zhang, H., & Wen, H. (2025). The relationship between perceived academic stress and college students’ employment anxiety: The mediating role of psychological resilience. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1602808. [Crossref]
📄Yılmaz, K., & Caz, Ç. (2022). Spor bilimleri fakültesi öğrencilerinin kariyer planlamaları ile iş bulma kaygıları arasındaki ilişki. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 5(1), 39-52.
📄Yurtsızoğlu, Z., & Gül, O. (2023). Kariyer eğitimi ve kariyer planlama farkındalığının spor endüstrisi için önemi. Ondokuz Mayis University Journal of Education Faculty, 42(1), 431-468. [Crossref]
📄Zhou, K., & Wang, J. (2025). Workplace anxiety leading to job burnout among young and middle-aged university lecturers: Mechanism and mitigation strategies. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1495718. [Crossref]
📄Zhou, Y., & Zhang, Z. (2024). From athletic excellence to academic influence: A study of retired Chinese athletes transitioning into the higher education sector. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1401575. [Crossref]