The mediating role of career mindfulness in the effect of proactive personality on professional commitment: A study on tour guidance students

The profession is one of the key domains of human life. However, the intense pace of rapidly changing life conditions can hinder some prospective professionals from focusing on their career development. At this point, individual characteristics play a decisive role. Many researchers argue that individuals with proactive personalities and high levels of mindfulness are more likely to succeed in their professions. Nevertheless, the relationships between proactive personality, career mindfulness, and professional commitment have not been adequately investigated. Addressing this gap in the literature, this study aims to examine the mediating role of career mindfulness in the relationship between proactive personality and professional commitment. Using a purposive sampling method, students from the Tourism Guidance departments of 22 Tourism Faculties in Turkey were included in the study. Previously developed scales were utilized to measure the variables. Data were collected from 592 students through online and face-to-face surveys and analyzed using basic descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. The findings revealed that students' proactive personalities, career mindfulness, and professional commitment were at a moderate level. Positive and significant relationships were identified among the variables. Model tests showed that while proactive personality did not directly affect professional commitment, it positively and significantly influenced professional commitment by mediating career mindfulness. Furthermore, proactive personality was found to positively and significantly affect career mindfulness, which positively and significantly influenced professional commitment. Among the control variables, working in tourism enterprises, voluntarily choosing the department, and having the desire to pursue a career in tour guiding positively and significantly contribute to career mindfulness. Another finding was that voluntarily choosing the department and having a career aspiration in tour guiding positively and significantly affected professional commitment. Based on the research findings, theoretical and practical implications have been presented.