Student misbehavior and teacher well-being: Testing the mediating role of the teacher-student relationship

Publication date: December 2018Source: Learning and Instruction, Volume 58Author(s): Karen Aldrup, Uta Klusmann, Oliver Lüdtke, Richard Göllner, Ulrich TrautweinAbstractAsked about major job stressors, teachers consistently name classroom disturbances or disciplinary problems. Furthermore, student misbehavior has been linked to reduced occupational well-being. However, there is a pressing need to uncover the psychological processes explaining this association. In their model of teacher well-being, Spilt, Koomen, and Thijs (2011) suggested the teacher-student relationship as a mediator. To test this assumption, the present study used longitudinal data from N = 222 teachers who rated student misbehavior in their classroom, the teacher-student relationship, and their well-being in terms of emotional exhaustion and work enthusiasm. In addition, the teachers' students (N = 4111) were asked about behavior problems in their class. The results revealed links between teacher-rated student misbehavior, increased exhaustion, and decreased enthusiasm. Student-rated misbehavior was correlated with teacher well-being to a lesser extent. Furthermore, the teacher-student relationship was positively associated with teacher well-being and mediated the link between teacher-perceived misbehavior and enthusiasm.
Source: Learning and Instruction - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research