Browsing by Author "Virolainen, Hanna"

Objectives: Teachers' well-being at work has been studied especially from the perspectives of work-related stress factors. However, experts from the field of well-being at work have pointed out that studies should focus more on studying factors that promote well-being than on factors that weaken well-being at work. The self-determination theo-ry (SDT) is part of motivational psychology. The theory considers that the fulfillment of basic psychological needs (BPN) is essential for human well-being. Based on the theory of self-determination this study develops Basic Psy-chological Needs of Teachers Scale (BPNTS) to measure the basic psychological needs of teachers. The scale is used to study the manifestation of basic needs factors related to the work of crafts teachers and teachers. The scale is also used to examine whether there are differences between craft teachers and other teachers in the realisation of basic needs factors, and whether background factors have an impact on the basic needs experiences of craft teach-ers. Methods: To measure the basic psychological needs of teachers a 7-step Likert -scaled survey was created. The survey was distributed through various online channels to craft teachers and teachers in the spring of 2021. 367 responses were received. 229 responses were from craft teachers and 138 from other teachers. The research data was analysed using statistical methods using IBM SPSS Statistics software. The manifestation of basic psychological needs of teachers was studied using exploratory factorial analysis (EFA). The differences between craft teachers and teachers in relation to the manifestation of basic psychological need factors were investigated through descriptive results, correlation examinations, a T-test of independent samples, as well as one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The association of background factors - teachers' age, place of work, gender and job title with teachers' basic needs experiences was investigated using one-way analysis of variance and correlation analysis. Results and conclusions: With the Basic Psychological Needs of Teachers Scale (BPNTS) was managed to measure the dimensions of the initial theory quite well. The scale turned out to be functional and reliable. As a result of the factorial analysis, 4 basic work-related needs dimensions were identified – Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness and Freedom. According to the theory, the results reinforced the assumption of the independent influence of basic psychological need factors. Both groups of teachers estimate that the studied dimensions were realized quite well on average in their work. Craft teachers felt that freedom to work was best realized and that relatedness was realized weakest. Statistically, a very significant difference between the teacher groups appeared in relation to the freedom and empowerment experienced at work. Crafts teachers estimate that these are fulfilled better in their work compared to other teachers. Of the background factors, the workplace was found to have some impact on the fulfillment of the basic needs of craft teachers. It has been noticed that to promote teachers' well-being at work, it would be important to be able to analyse well-being factors at work more effectively. The Basic Psychological Needs of Teachers Scale (BPNTS) provides a useful model for more accurately mapping and studying the basic needs dimensions that affect teachers' well-being at work.