Relationship between classroom teachers' silent resignation behavior levels and their occupational professionalism

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between primary school teachers' levels of quiet quitting behaviors and their levels of professional competence. Quiet quitting is defined as a behavioral tendency in which individuals perform only the minimum required tasks in the workplace, avoiding voluntary participation and exhibiting low organizational commitment. On the other hand, professional competence in teaching encompasses teachers' attitudes and behaviors related to ethical responsibility, pedagogical adequacy, institutional contribution, and continuous professional development. Within this framework, the study investigates whether increased burnout, motivation loss, and administrative pressure contribute to quiet quitting among teachers and how these factors relate to professional behavior. The study was conducted using a relational survey model, and data were collected from 217 primary school teachers working in public schools in the province of Sinop, Türkiye. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis were used. The findings revealed that teachers' levels of quiet quitting behaviors were moderate, while their levels of professional competence were high. Significant differences were observed according to demographic variables such as gender, professional title, place of duty, educational background, and years of experience. Furthermore, a strong and negative correlation was found between quiet quitting and professional competence. Quiet quitting behaviors were also found to significantly predict professional competence levels. The findings of this study indicate that enhancing teachers' professional competence may be a critical factor in reducing quiet quitting behaviors. In this context, it is recommended that educational institutions develop supportive administrative policies to strengthen teachers' motivation and commitment to the profession.