Responses to occupational identity threats in sustainability transitions: A qualitative study of Dutch farmers

Addressing environmental challenges requires structural changes across industries, often threatening individuals’ occupational roles. Yet how such identity threats are experienced and managed remains underexplored. We conducted a qualitative study of Dutch farmers affected by new sustainability regulations. Our analysis shows that farmers cognitively appraised these disruptions either as threats to autonomy, competence, and relatedness or as challenges offering opportunities to redefine their occupational identity. These appraisals were closely tied to emotions such as anger, sadness, fear, uncertainty, and hope. Depending on this interplay of cognitions and emotions, farmers adopted coping strategies including exiting, opposing, maintaining, or redefining their identity—each with distinct implications for sustainability transitions. Our study contributes to transition research by illuminating micro-processes of identity change and demonstrating how occupational identity shapes responses to phase-outs. We suggest that policymakers can support transitions by addressing identity-related needs and framing occupational identity changes as challenges rather than threats.