Unpacking the effect of teacher empowerment on professionalism: The mediation of trust in colleagues and affective commitment

Based on a survey involving 522 primary and secondary school teachers in Mainland China, this study analyzes the effect of teacher empowerment on professionalism, and examines the mediating roles of trust in colleagues and affective commitment through structural equation modeling. It was found that the implementation of teacher empowermentcould have a significant positive impact on trust among teachers and their affective commitment in the Chinese context. It was also suggested that, through the full mediation of trust in colleagues and affective commitment, teacher empowerment can affect their professional growth in an indirect and positive way. •Exploring the relationship between teacher empowerment and professionalism.•Teacher empowerment can have a significant positive impact on trust among teachers and their affective commitment in the Chinese context.•Through the full mediation of trust in colleagues and teachers' affective commitment, teacher empowerment can affect professional growth in an indirect and positive way.