Kindergarten Teachers' Work-Family/Family-Work Conflict and Turnover Intention: Mediation of Work Engagement and Moderation of Career Calling
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| Title: | Kindergarten Teachers' Work-Family/Family-Work Conflict and Turnover Intention: Mediation of Work Engagement and Moderation of Career Calling |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Ji Yeoun Kim, Won-Moo Hur (ORCID |
| Source: | Psychology in the Schools. 2025 62(11):4779-4791. |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 13 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Early Childhood Education Elementary Education Kindergarten Primary Education Preschool Education |
| Descriptors: | Kindergarten, Preschool Teachers, Labor Turnover, Teacher Persistence, Teacher Attitudes, Intention, Family Work Relationship, Conflict, Correlation, Career Choice, Teaching (Occupation), Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | South Korea |
| DOI: | 10.1002/pits.70037 |
| ISSN: | 0033-3085 1520-6807 |
| Abstract: | High turnover among early childhood teachers (ECTs) affects children's quality of care and development at a vital stage. Our study explored the antecedents of ECTs' turnover intention and the buffers against it. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, we proposed that work-family conflict (WFC) and family-work conflict (FWC) increase ECTs' turnover intention by undermining their work engagement. We further posited that ECTs' career calling can buffer the deleterious effects of WFC and FWC on work engagement. To test these hypotheses, we surveyed 321 South Korean kindergarten teachers and analyzed the proposed mediating and moderating effects. We found that kindergarten teachers' work engagement significantly mediated the relationship between FWC and turnover intention but observed no mediating effect on WFC. Furthermore, career calling moderated the relationship between work engagement and WFC, but not FWC. Policymakers should note the differential roles of WFC and FWC in ECTs' work engagement and turnover intention. Furthermore, they should recruit teachers with a strong career calling, as it provides a buffer from WFC and facilitates sustained work engagement among ECTs. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1486628 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | High turnover among early childhood teachers (ECTs) affects children's quality of care and development at a vital stage. Our study explored the antecedents of ECTs' turnover intention and the buffers against it. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, we proposed that work-family conflict (WFC) and family-work conflict (FWC) increase ECTs' turnover intention by undermining their work engagement. We further posited that ECTs' career calling can buffer the deleterious effects of WFC and FWC on work engagement. To test these hypotheses, we surveyed 321 South Korean kindergarten teachers and analyzed the proposed mediating and moderating effects. We found that kindergarten teachers' work engagement significantly mediated the relationship between FWC and turnover intention but observed no mediating effect on WFC. Furthermore, career calling moderated the relationship between work engagement and WFC, but not FWC. Policymakers should note the differential roles of WFC and FWC in ECTs' work engagement and turnover intention. Furthermore, they should recruit teachers with a strong career calling, as it provides a buffer from WFC and facilitates sustained work engagement among ECTs. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0033-3085 1520-6807 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/pits.70037 |
