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The Interplay of Compassion, Subjective Happiness and Proactive Strategies on Kindergarten Teachers’ Work Engagement and Perceived Working Environment Fit

Author

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  • Simona De Stasio

    (Department of Human Studies, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Paula Benevene

    (Department of Human Studies, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Alessandro Pepe

    (Department of Human Sciences “Riccardo Massa”, Bicocca University, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Ilaria Buonomo

    (Department of Human Studies, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Benedetta Ragni

    (Department of Human Studies, LUMSA University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Carmen Berenguer

    (Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

Background: The current cross-sectional study examines a model that was designed to advance understanding of the interplay between compassion towards teachers expressed by teaching colleagues, subjective happiness, proactive strategies and kindergarten teachers’ levels of work engagement, and perceived working environment fit. Methods: The research was conducted with a sample of 319 full-time in-service kindergarten teachers at Italian public preschools—a context in which a few previous studies have been carried out. Self-report questionnaires were administered: The Subjective Happiness Scale, the Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Proactive Strategy Scale, and the Teacher-working environment fit scale. Data were analyzed by using the structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. Results: Results show that compassion and subjective happiness have a direct positive total effect on work engagement, whereas the effects of compassion and subjective happiness on experienced working environment fit suggest that the association among constructs is mediated by the role of proactive strategies. Conclusions: Based on these findings, we strongly advocate that educational policy makers and head teachers’ pay close attention to the areas of personal and collective resources and work-related well-being, with a view to effectively address the promotion of early childhood teachers’ work engagement and working environment fit.

Suggested Citation

  • Simona De Stasio & Paula Benevene & Alessandro Pepe & Ilaria Buonomo & Benedetta Ragni & Carmen Berenguer, 2020. "The Interplay of Compassion, Subjective Happiness and Proactive Strategies on Kindergarten Teachers’ Work Engagement and Perceived Working Environment Fit," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4869-:d:380985
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonja Lyubomirsky & Heidi Lepper, 1999. "A Measure of Subjective Happiness: Preliminary Reliability and Construct Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 46(2), pages 137-155, February.
    2. Alfredo Rodríguez-Muñoz & Ana Sanz-Vergel & Evangelia Demerouti & Arnold Bakker, 2014. "Engaged at Work and Happy at Home: A Spillover–Crossover Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 271-283, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ilaria Buonomo & Martina Pansini & Sara Cervai & Paula Benevene, 2022. "Compassionate Work Environments and Their Role in Teachers’ Life Satisfaction: The Contribution of Perceived Collective School Performance and Burnout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Ilaria Buonomo & Paolo Emilio Santoro & Paula Benevene & Ivan Borrelli & Giacomo Angelini & Caterina Fiorilli & Maria Rosaria Gualano & Umberto Moscato, 2022. "Buffering the Effects of Burnout on Healthcare Professionals’ Health—The Mediating Role of Compassionate Relationships at Work in the COVID Era," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    3. José Salvador Blasco-Magraner & Gloria Bernabe-Valero & Pablo Marín-Liébana & Carmen Moret-Tatay, 2021. "Effects of the Educational Use of Music on 3- to 12-Year-Old Children’s Emotional Development: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-29, April.

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