The searching for meaning, professional satisfaction and the relationship of religiosity in teachers (The sample of Konya)

Our research, examines the relationship between teachers' search for meaning, professional satisfaction, and religiosity in the context of Konya. The study investigates the effects of various demographic variables, including gender, age, branch, professional seniority, school type, employment status, primary location of life, marital status, and whether or not they have children. The objective is to scientifically measure the direction and strength of the relationship between meaning in life, professional satisfaction and religiosity. The research sample comprises 383 teachers who work in the central districts of Konya. Participants were selected through random sampling method and they took part in an online survey that included the following data: "Personal Information Form", "Meaning in Life Scale", "Vocational Satisfaction Scale" and "Religiousness Scale". The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS program. The results of the research indicate that there are statistically significant differences in meaning in life and its sub-dimension scores based on age, professional seniority, employment status, marital status and whether or not the teachers have children. However, there were no statistically significant differences based on gender, branch, school type and primary location of life. Regarding occupational satisfaction and sub-dimension scores, there were significant differences observed. Specifically, the gender variable showed significant differences in the sub-dimensions of professional satisfaction and desire for improvement. Age, professional satisfaction, suitability for qualifications and desire for improvement exhibited significant differences in their sub-dimension scores. Branch, suitability for qualifications, and professional satisfaction displayed significant differences in their scores. Professional seniority, desire for improvement, and professional satisfaction scores also showed statistically differences based on school type, employment status, primary location of life, marital status, or having/not having children. In terms of religiosity and sub-dimension scores, significant difference were found. The gender variable demonstrated significant difference in the total score of religiosity and the belief sub-dimension. Age and employment status variables exhibited significant differences in the belief and behavior sub-dimension. Seniority and marital status variables displayed significant differences in the behavior sub-dimension. The branch variable showed significant difference in the total score of behavior, knowledge sub-dimension and religiosity. Additionally, there was a significant difference in the knowledge sub-dimension based on the variable of having/not having children. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in terms of school type or primary location on life. The analysis indicated weak positive and significant relationship between Meaning in Life and Occupational Satisfaction, Meaning in Life and Religiosity, and Professional Satisfaction and Religiosity among teachers. Keywords: Meaning, Search for Meaning, Profession, Professional Satisfaction, Religion, Religiosity, Teacher, Education.