Predicting Teacher Workplace Resilience: A Moderated Mediation Model Of Emotional Literacy, Self-Compassion, And Mindset
Main Article Content
Abstract
With growing attention on academic research, the role of teachers—the cornerstone of education—has become a focal point for investigating factors influencing professional effectiveness (Howard-Jones, 2014). This study examines the relationships among emotional literacy, self-compassion, mindset, and workplace buoyancy in teachers. A total of 168 teachers (mean age = 33.11; SD = 8.25; 25% men, 75% women) from public and private schools, colleges, and universities participated in an online survey during the pandemic, using purposive sampling. Demographic data were collected via a researcher-designed questionnaire, while emotional literacy, self-compassion, growth mindset, and workplace resilience were assessed using validated scales. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that growth mindset moderated the relationship between emotional awareness and workplace buoyancy, suggesting that teachers with a growth mindset exhibited higher resilience in navigating workplace challenges. Additionally, mindfulness significantly mediated the relationship between emotional regulation and workplace buoyancy, indicating that teachers’ awareness of their thoughts and emotions enhanced their ability to manage stress and maintain resilience. These findings underscore the critical role of emotional literacy and mindset in fostering teacher resilience and performance. The study recommends implementing resilience programs for educators that integrate mindfulness practices and promote a growth mindset to strengthen workplace buoyancy.
Article Details
References
Abiodullah, M., & Aslam, M. (2020). Emotional intelligence as a predictor of teacher engagement in classroom. Bulletin of Education and Research, 42(1), 127–140.
Al-Qadri, A. H., Zhao, W., Miao, L., Al-Khresheh, M., & Boudouaia, A. (2022). Emotional intelligence scale for international students: A proposal for a developed version. Frontiers in Education, 7, Article 853303. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.853303
Asrar-ul-Haq, M., Anwar, S., & Hassan, M. (2017). Impact of emotional intelligence on teachers' performance in higher education institutions of Pakistan. Future Business Journal, 3(2), 87–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbj.2017.05.003
Burnette, J. L., Knouse, L. E., Vavra, D. T., O'Boyle, E., & Brooks, M. A. (2020). Growth mindsets and psychological distress: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 77, Article 101816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101816
Carmeli, A. (2003). The relationship between emotional intelligence and work attitudes, behavior and outcomes: An examination among senior managers. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 18(8), 788–813. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940310511881
Collie, R. J. (2021). COVID-19 and teachers' somatic burden, stress, and emotional exhaustion: Examining the role of principal leadership and workplace buoyancy. AERA Open, 7, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858420986187
Dennis, K. S. (2016). Cultivating a growth mindset for effective adaptation in today's dynamic workplace. International Journal on Lifelong Education and Leadership, 2(2), 1–11.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
Frydenberg, E. (2017). Positive psychology, mindset, grit, hardiness, and emotional intelligence and the construct of resilience: A good fit with coping. In E. Frydenberg (Ed.), Coping and the challenge of resilience (pp. 13–28). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56924-0_2
Howard, S., & Johnson, B. (2004). Resilient teachers: Resisting stress and burnout. Social Psychology of Education, 7(4), 399–420. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-004-0975-0
Howard-Jones, P. A. (2014). Neuroscience and education: Myths and messages. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(12), 817–824. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3817
Lee, C. S., & Jang, H. Y. (2018). The roles of growth mindset and grit in relation to hope and self-directed learning. Journal of the Korea Convergence Society, 9(1), 95–102.
MacBeth, A., & Gumley, A. (2012). Exploring compassion: A meta-analysis of the association between self-compassion and psychopathology. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(6), 545–552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2012.06.003
Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., & Caruso, D. R. (2008). Emotional intelligence: New ability or eclectic traits? American Psychologist, 63(6), 503–517. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.63.6.503
Moè, A., & Katz, I. (2020). Self-compassionate teachers are more autonomy supportive and structuring whereas self-derogating teachers are more controlling and chaotic: The mediating role of need satisfaction and burnout. Teaching and Teacher Education, 96, Article 103173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2020.103173
Naqvi, I. H., Iqbal, M., & Akhtar, S. N. (2016). The relationship between emotional intelligence and performance of secondary school teachers. Bulletin of Education and Research, 38(1), 209–224.
Neff, K. D. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032
Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860390209035
Neff, K., Rude, S., & Kirkpatrick, K. (2007). An examination of self-compassion in relation to positive psychological functioning and personality traits. Journal of Research in Personality, 41, 908–916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2006.08.002
Neff, K. D., Kirkpatrick, K. L., & Rude, S. S. (2007). Self-compassion and adaptive psychological functioning. Journal of Research in Personality, 41(1), 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2006.03.004
O'Keefe, P. A. (2013). Mindsets and self-evaluation: How beliefs about intelligence can create a preference for growth over defensiveness. In S. B. Kaufman (Ed.), The complexity of greatness: Beyond talent or practice (pp. 119–134). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199794003.003.0008
Pagnini, F., Cavalera, C., Volpato, E., Comazzi, B., Vailati Riboni, F., Valota, C., Bercovitz, K., Molinari, E., Banfi, P., Phillips, D., & Langer, E. (2019). Ageing as a mindset: A study protocol to rejuvenate older adults with a counterclockwise psychological intervention. BMJ Open, 9(7), Article e030411. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030411
Sbarra, D. A., Smith, H. L., & Mehl, M. R. (2012). When leaving your ex, love yourself: Observational ratings of self-compassion predict the course of emotional recovery following marital separation. Psychological Science, 23(3), 261–269. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611429466
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., & Bhullar, N. (2009). The assessing emotions scale. In J. D. Mayer, R. D. Roberts, & S. G. Barsade (Eds.), Assessing emotional intelligence: Theory, research, and applications (pp. 119–134). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-88370-0_7
Shaukat, S., & Pell, A. W. (2016). Gender inequity at workplace in Pakistani higher education institutions. Bahria Journal of Professional Psychology, 15(1), 29–44.
Siddiqui, F. A., & Soomro, N. P. (2019). Emotional intelligence, occupational stress, problem-focused and active avoidance coping strategies of female teachers. Bahria Journal of Professional Psychology, 18(2), 55–69.
Skinner, E., & Beers, J. (2016). Mindfulness and teachers' coping in the classroom: A developmental model of teacher stress, coping, and everyday resilience. In K. A. Schonert-Reichl & R. W. Roeser (Eds.), Handbook of mindfulness in education: Integrating theory and research into practice (pp. 99–118). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3506-2_7
Spilt, J. L., Koomen, H. M., & Thijs, J. T. (2011). Teacher wellbeing: The importance of teacher–student relationships. Educational Psychology Review, 23, 457–477. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-011-9170-y
Turner, K., & Theilking, M. (2019). Teacher wellbeing: Its effects on teaching practice and student learning. Issues in Educational Research, 29(3), 938–960.
Winfrey, S. E. (2020). Validating the mindset scale for use with international students attending college in the United States [Doctoral dissertation, North Dakota State University]. North Dakota State University. https://library.ndsu.edu/ir/bitstream/handle/10365/32293/
Winwood, P. C., Colon, R., & McEwen, K. (2013). A practical measure of workplace resilience: Developing the resilience at work scale. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 55(10), 1205–1212. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3182a2a60
Zeng, G., Chen, X., Cheung, H. Y., & Peng, K. (2019). Teachers' growth mindset and work engagement in the Chinese educational context: Well-being and perseverance of effort as mediators. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, Article 839. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00839
Zessin, U., Dickhäuser, O., & Garbade, S. (2015). The relationship between self-compassion and well-being: A meta-analysis. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 7(3), 340–364. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12051