Teachers’ Well-Being During the Finnish Two-Year Pre-Primary Education Trial: Negative, Positive, and Neutral Experiences in Relation to Burnout and Work Engagement

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Abstract

This study investigated how teachers participating in Finland’s two-year pre-primary education trial perceived the trial’s impact on their well-being and whether these experiences predicted their levels of burnout and work engagement. A total of 279 teachers responded to an open-ended question regarding their experiences and marked their responses on scales measuring burnout and work engagement. The teachers’ experiences were themed into negative, positive, and neutral experiences of which many were found to explain aspects of burnout and work engagement. Notably, an increased workload was linked to higher burnout and lower engagement, while increased motivation and professional development were associated with greater engagement and lower burnout. The findings indicate that the trial had both positive and negative effects on teachers’ well-being.

Authors

• Heli Johanna Muhonen, University of Jyväskylä

• Hilla Villanen, University of Jyväskylä

• Maarit Alasuutari, University of Jyväskylä

• Marja-Kristiina Lerkkanen, University of Jyväskylä