University instructors who perceive their profession as a personal calling demonstrate a higher level of work engagement. Researchers from China reached this conclusion, publishing their results in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
Engagement is understood as a psychological state in which an employee feels energy, dedication to the cause and is fully absorbed in tasks. People with high engagement experience meaning and enthusiasm, and time at work flies by unnoticed. A calling is a deep inner impulse in which a person perceives work as an important part of their identity, rather than merely a way to earn money.
Scientists Yulong Guo of Harbin Engineering University and Mengshi Zhang of Northeast Forestry University focused on instructors of ideological and political disciplines at Chinese universities. They wanted to understand how internal psychological factors influence the professional activity of these educators.
The study was based on self-determination theory, according to which people have basic needs for autonomy, competence and belonging. A strong calling helps satisfy these needs: work feels like a personal choice, the pursuit of success develops skills, and a connection to a social purpose gives a sense of belonging. This, in turn, strengthens attachment to the educational institution.
Social exchange theory was also used: if an organization creates a supportive environment, the employee feels an obligation to reciprocate. The researchers hypothesized that job satisfaction caused by a calling prompts instructors to invest more effort in the educational process.
A survey conducted using the snowball method involved 1,428 instructors from 13 provinces of China. About 58% had a master's degree and 22% a doctorate. Participants rated their feelings on scales of calling, emotional attachment to the university, job satisfaction and engagement.
Statistical analysis showed that the stronger an instructor's sense of calling, the higher their engagement. Moreover, organizational commitment and job satisfaction act as intermediate links. A strong calling leads to greater loyalty to the university, which increases satisfaction, and that in turn increases engagement.
The authors note that the study has limitations: the data were collected at a single point in time, so only associations, not cause-and-effect chains, can be discussed. In addition, the sample was 75% women, which may not reflect the general population. Future research will require longitudinal studies and more objective measures.