A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Teachers’ stress as a moderator of the impact of a professional development intervention on preschool children’s social-emotional learning




AuthorsZarra-Nezhad, Maryam; Moazami-Goodarzi, Ali; Muotka, Joona; Sajaniemi, Nina

PublisherSuomen varhaiskasvatus ry

Publication year2023

Journal: Journal of Early Childhood Education Research

Volume12

Issue3

First page 64

Last page87

eISSN2323-7414

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.58955/jecer.126751

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.58955/jecer.126751

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/500105541


Abstract

This study examined the extent to which the impact of a universal professional development (PD) intervention program on children’s early social-emotional learning (SEL) is dependent on early childhood education (ECE) teachers’ stress levels. The program (POMPedaSens) aimed to promote children’s (5–6-year-olds’) SEL by supporting ECE teachers’ PD. Intervention effectiveness was monitored using an 8-month randomized controlled trial design with an intervention group (IG; 26 teachers and 195 children) and a waiting control group (CG; 36 teachers and 198 children) that provided data before and after program implementation. ECE teachers in the IG were trained to implement the intervention program in their early childhood education and care groups. Latent change score analysis revealed that when teachers showed a low level of stress, children’s prosocial behavior increased only in the IG. There were no significant results for the IG in terms of a change in antisocial behavior. The results suggest a promising application of the PD intervention for promoting prosocial behavior in ECE when teachers have low stress. A longer intervention period is likely needed to determine the moderating effect of ECE teachers’ well-being on children’s antisocial behavior change. Unexpectedly, when teachers showed a high level of stress, an increase in prosocial behavior and a decrease in antisocial behavior were found for children in the CG. This could result from demands for accountability and high expectations regarding early prosocial behavior without supporting teachers’ PD and well-being, which can diminish social-emotional functioning in the long run. Decreased antisocial behavior in the CG could stem from an acquired propensity towards compliant behavior driven by either a sense of obedience or fear. High stress in the CG indicates that teachers were trying to do their best at the risk of their own well-being.


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Funding information in the publication
This work was supported by the Academy of Finland under Grant number 330960 to Maryam Zarra-Nezhad and the Finnish National Agency for Education under Grant number 33/2178/2018 to Nina Sajaniemi.


Last updated on 2025-17-11 at 14:23