Teacher Trust in Colleagues and Basic Psychological Needs: A Two-Wave Cross-Lagged Study

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Teacher Trust in Colleagues and Basic Psychological Needs: A Two-Wave Cross-Lagged Study
Language: English
Authors: Alice Levasseur (ORCID 0000-0002-1220-185X), Louise Clément (ORCID 0000-0001-8230-2077)
Source: Educational Administration Quarterly. 2026 62(1):162-194.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 33
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Trust (Psychology), Collegiality, Psychological Needs, Career and Technical Education Teachers, Foreign Countries, Need Gratification
Geographic Terms: Canada
DOI: 10.1177/0013161X251394996
ISSN: 0013-161X
1552-3519
Abstract: Considering the importance of social climate for teacher motivation, this study, grounded in self-determination theory, examines the longitudinal links between teacher trust in colleagues and the satisfaction and frustration of their basic psychological needs: relatedness, competence, and autonomy. The study was conducted among 666 Canadian vocational teachers. Results of the structural equation modelling analyses reveal that: trust in colleagues at T1 positively predicts the satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs (relatedness, competence, and autonomy) at T2; and trust in colleagues at T1 negatively predicts the frustration of the three needs (relatedness, competence, and autonomy) at T2. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the key role of trust in colleagues in teacher motivation, from a longitudinal perspective. In fact, when vocational teachers perceive the presence of relational trust in their colleagues, their motivational resources are more enhanced, which ultimately contributes to quality work motivation. In light of these findings, principals would do well to look at ways of cultivating teacher trust in colleagues when they want to motivate their teaching staff.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496348
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Considering the importance of social climate for teacher motivation, this study, grounded in self-determination theory, examines the longitudinal links between teacher trust in colleagues and the satisfaction and frustration of their basic psychological needs: relatedness, competence, and autonomy. The study was conducted among 666 Canadian vocational teachers. Results of the structural equation modelling analyses reveal that: trust in colleagues at T1 positively predicts the satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs (relatedness, competence, and autonomy) at T2; and trust in colleagues at T1 negatively predicts the frustration of the three needs (relatedness, competence, and autonomy) at T2. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the key role of trust in colleagues in teacher motivation, from a longitudinal perspective. In fact, when vocational teachers perceive the presence of relational trust in their colleagues, their motivational resources are more enhanced, which ultimately contributes to quality work motivation. In light of these findings, principals would do well to look at ways of cultivating teacher trust in colleagues when they want to motivate their teaching staff.
ISSN:0013-161X
1552-3519
DOI:10.1177/0013161X251394996