The Mediating Effect of Networking Behavior in the Relationship Between Professional Identity and Subjective Career Success of Certified Coaches in Korea Park, Tae Yeon Department of Education Graduate School of Inha University Advisor: Bae, Eul Kyoo ...
The Mediating Effect of Networking Behavior in the Relationship Between Professional Identity and Subjective Career Success of Certified Coaches in Korea Park, Tae Yeon Department of Education Graduate School of Inha University Advisor: Bae, Eul Kyoo This study examined the mediating effect of networking behavior in the relationship between domestic certified coaches’ perceived professional identity and their subjective career success. Through this analysis, the study aimed to provide theoretical implications for understanding the relationships among professional identity, networking behavior, and subjective career success among domestic certified coaches. In addition, it sought to offer practical implications for strengthening the competencies of domestic certified coaches by fostering professional identity, enhancing networking behavior, and ultimately improving subjective career success. To achieve the research objectives, certified coaches affiliated with the Korea Coaching Association(KCA) were selected as the study population. Accordingly, a total of 17,223 certified coaches accredited by the Korea Coaching Association were identified as the study population. For systematic sampling, the minimum sample size was calculated as 376, based on a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of ±5 percentage points. The survey was conducted in two phases. First, a pilot survey was conducted with 35 participants from July 13 to July 15, 2025, to verify the reliability of the research instrument. Next, the main survey was conducted from July 18 to August 1, 2025. Research participation was promoted through online communities and offline gatherings of coaches registered with the Korea Coaching Association, and the online survey link was distributed accordingly. The survey was distributed to 752 individiduals, taking into account the expected response rate and potential insincere responses, and a total of 490 questionnaires were collected. Among them, 10 questionnaires identified as insincere responses were excluded, and a total of 480 valid responses were used for the final analysis. The data collected in this study were analyzed using the following methods. First, frequency analysis was conducted to examine the demographic characteristics of certified coaches in Korea. Second, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to verify the validity of the measurement instruments, and reliability was assessed using McDonald’s ω coefficient. Third, to determine the presence of common method bias, all measurement items were subjected to exploratory factor analysis using Harman’s single-factor test. Fourth, descriptive statistical analysis was performed to examine the means, standard deviations, skewness, and kurtosis of the research variables, and to verify the normality of the data. Fifth, Pearson’s product-moment correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships among the research variables. Sixth, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to verify differences in the levels of perception of the research variables among certified coaches in Korea. Seventh, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the research hypotheses and analyze the mediating effects among the study variables. Based on these procedures, the findings of the study are as follws: First, the professional identity of certified coaches in Korea was found to have a statistically significant positive relationship with networking behavior. This result is consistent with previous studies suggesting that the higher the level of professional identity awareness among certified coaches, the more actively they engage in networking behaviors. Therefore, professional identity serves as an important factor that promotes broad collaborative behaviors, including relationship building with peers, information sharing, and social contribution. However, previous studies have primarily examined the relationships between sub-factors of professional identity and variables similar to networking behavior, and few have directly investigated the relationship between professional identity and networking behavior itself. Therefore, this study is significant in that it provides empirical evidence for the direct relationship between professional identity and networking behavior. Thus, for certified coaches to grow into professionals with broad perspectives across various fields, awareness of their professional identity must come first, as it serves as a critical foundation for deepening their professional competence and promoting networking behavior. Second, networking behavior among certified coaches in Korea was found to have a statistically significant positive relationship with subjective career success. this indicates that the more actively certified coaches in Korea engage in networking activities, the higher their level of subjective career success. In particular, certified coaches can be classified into independent (freelance) coaches and organization-affiliated coahces, and differences exist in how and to what extnet they utilize networking. Independent coahces tend to focus on discovering new opportunities and expanding their careers through external networks, whereas organization-affiliated coaches often pursue career development by utilizing internal resources and human networks within their organizations. Therefore, networking behavior can be identified as a key factor that promotes subjective career success, regardless of the type of professional activity. However, few previous studies have systematically examined the effects of networking behavior specifically among certified coaches. Therefore, this study holds academic significance in that it empirically identified the effects of networking behavior by establishing it as a key variable for certified coaches. Third, the professional identity of certified coaches in Korea was found to have a statistically significant positive relationship with subjective career success. This finding is consistent with previous studies indicating that perceiving oneself as a professional in one’s field and engaging in professional practice are highlty correlated with subjective career success. However, prior studies have primarily focused on the effects of professional identity on job-related variables such as job satisfaction or organizational commitment, with very few having empirically examined its direct relationship with subjective career success. Therefore, this study holds academic significance in that it empirically demonstrated the direct relationship between professional identity and subjective career success among certified coaches in Korea. Thus, when certified coaches experience subjective career success, it not only deepens their professional expertise in coaching but also provides an essential foundation for sustaining their careers in the long term and enhancing their social contribution. Fourth, the analysis of the mediating effect of networking behavior in the relationship between professional identity and subjective career success among certified coaches in Korea revealed that networking behavior serves as a mediator between the two variables. This suggests that the more clearly certified coaches recognize their professional identity and establish a sense of pride and role awareness as professionals, the more actively they engage in networking behaviors such as building external relationships and exchanging resources. Such networking behavior not only enhances a sense of accomplishment in one’s career but also leads certified coaches to experience fulfillment and satisfaction in their work, ultimately serving as an important pathway that promotes subjective career success. In this regard, the study is significant in that it is the first to empirically verify the relationships among these three variables within the context of certified coahces in Korea. Therefore, in order to enhance the subjective career success of certified coaches in Korea, it is necessary to develop both their professional identity and networking behavior. Keyword : Coaching, Certified Coach, Professional Identity, Networking Behvior, Subjective Career Success