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. 2025 Jan 10;13(1):31.
doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02355-2.

Exploring the interplay between social connectedness, job control, and organizational commitment: the mediating role of work engagement among Chinese teachers

Xing Li  1 , Yong Xu  2 , Dan Huang  3
Affiliations

Exploring the interplay between social connectedness, job control, and organizational commitment: the mediating role of work engagement among Chinese teachers

Xing Li et al. BMC Psychol. .

Abstract

This study investigated the factors influencing teachers' organizational commitment in China. We employed a survey design with a sample of 506 full-time teachers from various public middle and high schools across mainland China. Social connectedness, job control, and work engagement were measured using self-reported scales. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to examine the hypothesized relationships. The results indicated that social connectedness and job control were directly associated with higher levels of organizational commitment among teachers. Furthermore, work engagement played a mediating role in these relationships. Specifically, teachers who felt more connected to their colleagues and had greater control over their work reported higher levels of work engagement, which, in turn, predicted stronger organizational commitment. These findings highlight the importance of fostering a supportive and collaborative school environment to cultivate social connectedness and provide teachers with greater autonomy and decision-making opportunities to enhance job control. By nurturing these factors, schools can promote work engagement, ultimately leading to a more dedicated and committed teaching workforce.

Keywords: Job control; Organizational commitment; SEM; Social connectedness; Teachers; Work engagement.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: This research was conducted with the utmost respect for ethical principles. The study protocol underwent a rigorous review and received approval from the ethics committee at Anhui University of Finance and Economics (Bengbu, Anhui, China, 233030). This committee ensured the research posed no potential risk to participants. All procedures strictly adhered to relevant guidelines and regulations. Informed consent was obtained in writing from all participants. They were thoroughly briefed on the research objectives, given the opportunity to ask questions, and participated voluntarily with the understanding that they could withdraw at any point without explanation or consequence. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The model of social connectedness, job control, work engagement, and organizational commitment
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