The Spiritual, Personal, and Professional World of Teachers in the Beginning of Their Career

• In Event: 63.080 - Spirituality and Education SIG: Three-Paper Session

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine the relationship between spirituality from a humanistic perspective (self-transcendence, mission in life and values) and personal and professional identity, burnout and work engagement among beginning teachers from differing sectors, ultra-Orthodox, religious and secular (n=353). Based on mixed methods design: quantitative methodology including multivariate statistical procedures and path analysis (SEM); quantitative methodology including semi-structured in-depth interviews with 35 teachers. The findings suggest that humanistic spirituality negatively related to burnout and positively related to work engagement. These relations are universal, not differing between religious and secular groups; professional identity mediates the relationship between humanistic spirituality and burnout and work engagement; and an adjustment process model arose from the interviews.

Authors

• Zehavit Gross, Bar-Ilan University

• Oshrat Bouhnik, Bar-Ilan University