PURPOSE This study aimed to examine the relationship between job stress and occupational identity among taekwondo referees, with particular attention to the mediating roles of job satisfaction and feedback environment. METHODS Participants were 320 referees registered with the Korea Taekwondo Federation or regional Taekwondo associations. Data analysis included frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability analysis. In addition, mediation effects were tested using the SPSS PROCESS Macro. RESULTS The findings revealed that job stress among taekwondo referees had a significant negative effect on job satisfaction and feedback environment. While job satisfaction was positively associated with feedback environment, it did not exert a significant influence on occupational identity. Conversely, feedback environment showed a strong positive effect on occupational identity. Furthermore, both job satisfaction and feedback environment were found to fully mediate the relationship between job stress and occupational identity. CONCLUSIONS Job stress indirectly affects occupational identity of taekwondo referees through job satisfaction and feedback environment. These results highlight the importance of fostering job satisfaction and cultivating a supportive feedback environment as essential mediating factors in mitigating the negative effects of job stress on occupational identity.
