View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Choosing to care: examining the role of motivation, practicum experiences, and working conditions on aspiring childcare professionals in Flanders.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Choosing to care: examining the role of motivation, practicum experiences, and working conditions on aspiring childcare professionals in Flanders.
Authors: Grielens, Lisa1 (AUTHOR) lisa.grielens@uantwerpen.be, Buffel, Veerle2 (AUTHOR), Ponnet, Koen3,4 (AUTHOR), Devlieghere, Jochen5 (AUTHOR), De Bruyn, Sara1 (AUTHOR), Wouters, Edwin1 (AUTHOR)
Source: European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. Apr2026, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p362-379. 18p.
Subject Terms: *Practicums, *Motivation (Psychology), *Vocational education, *Vocational interests, *Child care, Work environment, Labor market
Geographic Terms: Flanders (Belgium)
Abstract: The childcare sector is experiencing major staff shortages, putting pressure on the quality provided within childcare centers and consequently on the children. One cause of these shortages is the insufficient supply of new childcare professionals. This study examines pre-service childcare professionals' intentions to enter the field in relation to the following three aspects: study choice motivation, practicum experiences and perceptions of working conditions. Data were cross-sectional collected through an online survey via schools from students (n = 177) enrolled in a 7th-year secondary vocational education program in Flanders (Belgium). Results indicate that only a minority of pre-service childcare professionals intend to enter the profession. Logistic regression analysis reveals that those who perceive good career opportunities (i.e. advancement to staff leadership) are more likely to enter the profession, as do those who showed a high degree of appreciation for the work during their practicum. However, study choice motivation did not affect their intentions to enter the profession, as motivation was uniformly high across all pre-service childcare professionals. These results suggest that only a minority of the pre-service childcare professionals are likely to enter the profession. Those who do, may advance to leadership roles and subsequently leave the childcare profession, exacerbating workforce shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of European Early Childhood Education Research Journal is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 193251557
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Choosing to care: examining the role of motivation, practicum experiences, and working conditions on aspiring childcare professionals in Flanders.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grielens%2C+Lisa%22">Grielens, Lisa</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> lisa.grielens@uantwerpen.be</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Buffel%2C+Veerle%22">Buffel, Veerle</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ponnet%2C+Koen%22">Ponnet, Koen</searchLink><relatesTo>3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Devlieghere%2C+Jochen%22">Devlieghere, Jochen</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22De+Bruyn%2C+Sara%22">De Bruyn, Sara</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wouters%2C+Edwin%22">Wouters, Edwin</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22European+Early+Childhood+Education+Research+Journal%22">European Early Childhood Education Research Journal</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p362-379. 18p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Practicums%22">Practicums</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motivation+%28Psychology%29%22">Motivation (Psychology)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+education%22">Vocational education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+interests%22">Vocational interests</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+care%22">Child care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work+environment%22">Work environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+market%22">Labor market</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Flanders+%28Belgium%29%22">Flanders (Belgium)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The childcare sector is experiencing major staff shortages, putting pressure on the quality provided within childcare centers and consequently on the children. One cause of these shortages is the insufficient supply of new childcare professionals. This study examines pre-service childcare professionals' intentions to enter the field in relation to the following three aspects: study choice motivation, practicum experiences and perceptions of working conditions. Data were cross-sectional collected through an online survey via schools from students (n = 177) enrolled in a 7th-year secondary vocational education program in Flanders (Belgium). Results indicate that only a minority of pre-service childcare professionals intend to enter the profession. Logistic regression analysis reveals that those who perceive good career opportunities (i.e. advancement to staff leadership) are more likely to enter the profession, as do those who showed a high degree of appreciation for the work during their practicum. However, study choice motivation did not affect their intentions to enter the profession, as motivation was uniformly high across all pre-service childcare professionals. These results suggest that only a minority of the pre-service childcare professionals are likely to enter the profession. Those who do, may advance to leadership roles and subsequently leave the childcare profession, exacerbating workforce shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of European Early Childhood Education Research Journal is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=193251557
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/1350293X.2025.2517284
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 362
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Practicums
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motivation (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational interests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor market
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Flanders (Belgium)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Choosing to care: examining the role of motivation, practicum experiences, and working conditions on aspiring childcare professionals in Flanders.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Grielens, Lisa
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Buffel, Veerle
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ponnet, Koen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Devlieghere, Jochen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: De Bruyn, Sara
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wouters, Edwin
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1350293X
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 34
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: European Early Childhood Education Research Journal
              Type: main
ResultId 1