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Preservice teachers’ work stress, self-efficacy, and occupational commitment in four countries

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Abstract

In this study, we examine the teaching-related stress, self-efficacy, and occupational commitment of preservice teachers from two culturally western and two culturally eastern countries. The sample included 1,187 participants from Canada (n = 379), England (n = 203), Hong Kong (n = 211), and Thailand (n = 394). Self-efficacy partially reduced (mediated) the effect of stress from student behavior and from workload on commitment in three of four contexts. Mediation tests with country as moderator revealed significant differences in the strength of the mediating effect across the four contexts. The results suggest that teachers’ self-efficacy changes the way in which work stress influences the commitment to continue teaching, although cultural milieu influences the nature of the relationship according to context.

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Notes

  1. We use the term preservice teacher to refer to individuals who are enrolled in a teacher training program with the intention of practicing as teachers. Other terms in the literature are student teachers, trainee teachers, and novice teachers.

  2. Note Chan (e.g., 2002) has conducted research on teacher stress and self-efficacy in Hong Kong.

  3. The Canadian data were included in a previous study comparing preservice and practicing teacher motivation (Klassen and Chiu 2011).

  4. Note that due to the large overall sample size, even modest correlation coefficients may be marked as statistically significant.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology in Education Research Centre, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK

    Robert Klassen

  2. Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, 184 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PQ, UK

    Elaine Wilson

  3. Department of Educational Psychology, Room 208, Ho Tim Building, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ma Liu Shui, Hong Kong

    Angela F. Y. Siu

  4. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2G5

    Wanwisa Hannok

  5. David Lam Building, Department of Education Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

    Marina W. Wong

  6. Saint Louis College, Bangkok, Thailand

    Nongkran Wongsri & Panwadee Sonthisap

  7. Srinakharinwirot University, 114 Sukhumvit 23, , Wattana District, , Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

    Chaleosri Pibulchol, Yanisa Buranachaitavee & Anchalee Jansem

Authors
  1. Robert Klassen
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  2. Elaine Wilson
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  3. Angela F. Y. Siu
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  4. Wanwisa Hannok
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  5. Marina W. Wong
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  6. Nongkran Wongsri
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  7. Panwadee Sonthisap
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  8. Chaleosri Pibulchol
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  9. Yanisa Buranachaitavee
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  10. Anchalee Jansem
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Correspondence to Robert Klassen.

Additional information

Robert Klassen. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G5. E-mail: robert.klassen@york.ac.uk; Web site: http://www.edpsychology.ualberta.ca/

Current themes of research: Robert Klassen is currently researching behavioral indicators of teachers’ motivation, engagement, and interactions with students. Motivation of teachers and students. Adolescents.

Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:

Klassen, R. M., Perry, N. E., & Frenzel, A. (2012). Teachers’ relatedness with students: An underemphasized aspect of teachers’ basic psychological needs. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104, 150–165.

Klassen, R. M., & Chiu, M. M. (2011). The occupational commitment and intention to quit of practicing and pre-service teachers: Influence of self-efficacy, job stress, and teaching context. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 36, 114–129.

Elaine Wilson. Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, 184 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8PQ, UK. E-mail: ew208@cam.ac.uk; Web site: http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/

Current themes of research: Teacher identity and agency.

Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:

Wilson, E., & Deaney, R. (2010). Changing career and changing identity: How do teachercareer changers exercise agency in identity construction? Social Psychology of Education,13, 169–183.

Angela F. Y. Siu. Department of Educational Psychology, Room 208, Ho Tim Building, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ma Liu Shui, Hong Kong. E-mail: afysiu@cuhk.edu.hk

Current themes of research: Emotional development of children.

Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:

Siu, A. F. Y., & Tse, C. S. (2012). Effect of ability grouping on coping strategies and selfesteem of Hong Kong primary school students. Asia Pacific Education Researcher.

Wanwisa Hannok. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta,Canada T6G 2G5. Web site: http://www.edpsychology.ualberta.ca/

Current themes of research: Adolescent motivation and cultural comparisons.

Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:

Klassen, R. M., Al-Dhafri, S., Hannok, W., & Betts, S. M. (2011). Investigating pre-service teacher motivation across cultures using the Teachers’ Ten Statements Test. Teaching and Teacher Education, 27, 579–588.

Marina W. Wong. David Lam Building, Department of Education Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. E-mail: marina@hkbu.edu.hk

Current themes of research: Teacher education.

Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:

Wong, M. W. (2011). Adapted action research as an instructional strategy in a music teacher education program in Hong Kong. Music Education Research, 13(2), 107–120.

Nongkran Wongsri. Saint Louis College, Bangkok, Thailand. E-mail: nongkran@saintlouis.or.th

Current themes of research: Motivation of students.

Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:

Wongsri, N. (2011). Psychology and lifelong learning. Center for Research and Academic Innovation of Saint Louis College, Bangkok, Thailand.

Panwadee Sonthisap. Saint Louis College, Bangkok, Thailand

Current themes of research: Student personality.

Chaleosri Pibulchol. Srinakharinwirot University, 114 Sukhumvit 23, Wattana District, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. Web site: http://www.swu.ac.th/en/

Current themes of research: Teaching and learning strategies.

Yanisa Buranachaitavee. Srinakharinwirot University, 114 Sukhumvit 23, Wattana District, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. Web site: http://www.swu.ac.th/en/

Current themes of research: Teachers’ motivation.

Anchalee Jansem. Srinakharinwirot University, 114 Sukhumvit 23, Wattana District, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. Web site: http://www.swu.ac.th/en/

Current themes of research: Reflective teaching.

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Klassen, R., Wilson, E., Siu, A.F.Y. et al. Preservice teachers’ work stress, self-efficacy, and occupational commitment in four countries. Eur J Psychol Educ 28, 1289–1309 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-012-0166-x

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