Determinants of career commitment in primary school teachers in Ireland : self-efficacy, stress and job satisfaction
Authors
Chapman, Annemarie
Issue Date
2013
Degree
BA (Hons) in Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the determinants of teacher career commitment in primary school teachers in Ireland. Investigating teacher stress (measured by the Fimian Teacher Stress Inventory), self-efficacy (measured by the Teacher Self Efficacy Scale) and job satisfaction (measured by the job satisfaction scale). This study was quantitative cross-sectional. It was a correlation study and descriptive in nature. 93 primary school teacher’s responded to self administered and online questionnaires; 32 male, 61 female. Higher career commitment had a strong positive relation to job satisfaction, and a low negative relation to stress and self-efficacy. This study found a high level of career commitment is found in teachers with high job satisfaction, low stress and low self-efficacy. Career commitment decreases as years experience in education increases. These findings add new knowledge that can be used to improve future planning in education and enhance organisational practices for teacher retention and motivation. Author keywords: Career commitment, primary school, teacher, teaching, education, job satisfaction, self-efficacy, stress