Early Childhood Professional Well-Being: A Construct Predictive of Job Satisfaction and Turnover in Childcare

• In Event: 43.046 - Early Childhood Assessments

Abstract

Approximately 27% of early childhood care and education professionals ‘turnover,’ or leave positions or the field annually, a phenomenon considered detrimental to quality in child care. The researchers conceptualized Early Childhood Professional Well-being (ECPW) as a way to consider factors that enhance or diminish a professionals’ capacity to care. Study aims included using the researchers’ ECPW-Questionnaire to: (1) refine the model of ECPW; and (2) examine the ECPW as a predictor of self-reported job satisfaction and ‘risk of turnover’. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed three factors in the ECPW-Q. Path analysis found factors of ECPW to be predictive of self-reported Job Satisfaction and Risk of Turnover. Implications for further analyses and uses of this instrument are considered.

Authors

• Mary Benson McMullen, Indiana University

• Melissa S. C. Lee, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Kate McCormick, SUNY - College at Cortland

• Jieun Choi, Indiana University - Bloomington