Emotions, Illness Symptoms, and Job Satisfaction among Kindergarten Teachers: The Mediating Role of Emotional Exhaustion

Keshun Zhang, Xinxin Cui, Rundong Wang, Chenchen Mu and Fang Wang
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Keshun Zhang: Department of Psychology, Normal College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Xinxin Cui: Department of Psychology, Normal College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Rundong Wang: Department of Psychology, Normal College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Chenchen Mu: Department of Psychology, Normal College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Fang Wang: Department of Preschool Education, Normal College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: Kindergarten teachers’ emotions are an essential factor in their physical and psychological wellbeing. Previous studies mainly focused on the relationship between kindergarten teachers’ emotions and their students’ emotions while ignoring the important relationships between kindergarten teachers’ emotions and their own wellbeing (e.g., teachers’ health, job satisfaction, burnout). Therefore, this study explores teacher emotions as predictor variables, illness symptoms, and job satisfaction as criterion variables, and emotional exhaustion as a mediator. In total, 1997 kindergarten teachers completed the Teacher’s Emotion Scale, the Occupational Emotional Exhaustion Scale, the Illness Symptoms Scale, and the Job Satisfaction Scale. Results revealed that enjoyment negatively predicted illness symptoms and positively predicted job satisfaction via the mediating role of emotional exhaustion. The opposite relationships were found with anger, also confirming the mediating role of emotional exhaustion. Anxiety positively predicted illness symptoms, completely mediated by emotional exhaustion, but no relationship was found with job satisfaction. The function of emotions in teachers’ physical and mental health, implications for kindergartens’ research and practice, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords: kindergarten teacher; teachers’ emotions; emotional exhaustion; illness symptoms; job satisfaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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