Early childhood educators' workplace well-being: It's everyone's right!. Issue 4 (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Catherine; Johnstone, Melissa; Hadley, Fay; Waniganayake, Manjula
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal of early childhood. Volume 45:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 322
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Early childhood educator -- workplace well-being -- Self Determination Theory -- emotional labour; Early childhood education -- Periodicals; Child care services -- Periodicals; Early childhood education -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Child care services -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Child care services; Child development; Early childhood education; Australasia; Periodicals; 372.21
• DOI: 10.1177/1836939120966086
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1836-9391

Abstract

Extant literature on Early Childhood educator workplace well-being focuses on the disease model of well-being, with studies mainly addressing stress and burnout. There is a paucity of research conceptualising healthy workplace well-being for educators and an absence of theorising to frame, understand and enhance Early Childhood educator workplace well-being. This paper reports on Phase 2 of an exploratory sequential mixed methods study, which aimed to explore the individual, relational, and contextual factors influencing healthy workplace well-being. Using Phase 1 interview findings (Author, blind for review), a survey was developed to investigate predictors on workplace well-being in early childhood services in Australia. The survey drew on the sub-theory 'Basic psychological needs' of Deci and Ryan's Self-Determination Theory. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that autonomy, relatedness, and competence predicted workplace well-being even after controlling for demographic and organisation variables.