How work well-being predicts career intention of social sports instructors in China

The promotion of nationwide physical fitness in China has increased demand for social sports instructors, but challenges such as a severe shortage of practitioners hinder its development. Drawing on social cognitive career theory, in this study we explored how work well-being predicts the career intention of social sports instructors. Findings show that work well-being positively predicts career intention through core self-evaluation. Specifically, job satisfaction and work engagement boost career intention, but job burnout dampens it. Additionally, job satisfaction and work engagement enhance core self-evaluation, whereas job burnout diminishes it. The study has expanded research on career intentions in the sports instructor industry. We propose methods to enhance the attractiveness of the social sports profession, and offer recommendations for sustainable human resource development and nationwide physical fitness initiatives.