Cited by 680Occupational Health and BurnoutTeacher Professional Development and MotivationTeacher Education and Leadership Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 196 of the 199 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 131 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Teacher well-being: A systematic review of the research literature from the year 2000–2019

Open access
Hascher, Tina, Waber, Jennifer·2021·Educational Research Review

Abstract

In recent years, teacher well-being has received increasing attention that has led to a plethora of empirical studies from various disciplines. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the clarification of the construct teacher well-being, add knowledge about the prevalence of teacher well-being and systematize predictors and outcomes of teacher well-being. A systematic review following the PRISMA-statement was applied to peer-reviewed papers published between the years 2000-2019 and a total of 98 studies were included in the final analysis. Heterogeneous approaches could be categorized into five distinct theoretical foundations. Empirical evidence did not confirm that teacher well-being is at risk. Among the variety of correlates and predictors of teacher well-being that could be categorized into general versus job-related categories on the individual or the contextual level, social relationships seem to play a pivotal role. Although empirical evidence regarding its outcomes is scarce, results suggest that teacher well-being influences teaching quality.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This PRISMA-based systematic review synthesized 98 peer-reviewed empirical studies on teacher well-being (TWB) published 2000–2019. It found heterogeneous definitions and operationalizations across five research fields, no empirical confirmation that TWB is generally at risk, a pivotal role for social relationships, and scarce evidence on TWB outcomes.

Key findings

  • Across 98 included studies, 74 used cross-sectional designs, 6 were longitudinal, 3 combined cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, and 15 were intervention studies; 77 were quantitative, 14 qualitative, and 7 mixed-methods. Studies came from over 40 countries and were categorized into five main research fields: well-being psychology (n = 29), positive psychology (n = 22), psychology of work and organization (n = 15), teacher well-being (n = 17), health research (n = 8), and “other” (n = 7).
  • Most TWB scores lay above a theoretical mean, leading the authors to conclude that most studies found medium to good levels of TWB reported by teachers; exceptions included low TWB, increased stress, or single burnout symptoms such as exhaustion. The review states that empirical evidence did not confirm that TWB is at risk.
  • Social relationships appeared pivotal among correlates/predictors: positive collegial relations, collegial support, or collaboration showed 21 positive relations; positive relationships with students showed 15 relations (14 positive, 1 ambivalent); support for quality teaching/supportive work environment showed 13 relations (12 positive, 1 ambivalent); support by principals/leadership showed 11 relations (10 positive, 1 ambivalent). Objective variables such as gender, age, and years of teaching were mostly small and heterogeneous.
  • Intervention effects were heterogeneous. Examples include Cheon et al. (2014) with effects between d = 0.91 and d = 1.61; Cook et al. (2017) with stress decline d = 0.99, teacher self-efficacy increase d = 0.99, and job satisfaction increase d = 1.24; Fernandes et al. (2019) with positive emotions η²p = .216, well-being η²p = .228, and negative emotions decrease η²p = .252; Talvio et al. (2013) with self-fulfillment d = 0.55 and relationship with parents d = −0.74. Only 8 studies investigated outcomes of TWB, and results suggest TWB influences teaching quality, though evidence is scarce.

Methods

  • Systematic review following PRISMA. Searches were conducted between July 2018 and May 2020 in ERIC, Scopus, PsycInfo, Science Direct, Sage Journals, and Taylor & Francis, limited to peer-reviewed English articles published 2000–2019. Search strings combined “teacher(s’) well-being,” “teaching and well-being,” “well-being of teachers,” and educator/well-being variants.
  • The search yielded 1,212 initial hits; after removing duplicates and adding synonym-search texts, 968 remained. Title/abstract screening and full-text eligibility assessment, plus 32 manually identified studies, resulted in 98 included studies. Interrater reliability for exclusion categorization was Cohen’s k = .86.
  • Data extraction used MAXQDA and recorded study characteristics, TWB theory/definition, research fields, design, approach, instruments, TWB scores, correlates/predictors, intervention programs, and outcomes. Predictors were categorized as objective versus subjective and as general individual, work-related individual, or work-related contextual.

Limitations

  • Stated in the paper: the review focused explicitly on TWB and excluded similar constructs such as resilience or mental health; differences in TWB operationalization and school systems require cautious comparison; English-only inclusion, database selection, citation probability bias, exclusion of gray literature, and cultural bias may have narrowed findings; effect sizes were not systematically reported; some publications likely drew on overlapping samples; and some included studies lacked key information such as exact sample descriptions.
  • Evident from the text: high heterogeneity in definitions, instruments, and results limits comparability; most studies were cross-sectional, preventing causal conclusions; intervention programs and scales had little overlap; samples were predominantly convenience (n = 68) or purposive (n = 10), with only 20 studies using probability or representative samples; and most findings relied on teachers’ own subjective reports from a single source.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100411

Cites

196 of 196 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

87 Not checked yet · 33 No basis given · 28 Own result · 19 Own interpretation · 12 Own method

Verify all 131 references — free account

Show all 99 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 66
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 19
80 of 80
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Peer-reviewed publication ensures the greatest possible scientific quality.

    “we selected peer-reviewed articles, in order to ensure the greatest possible scientific quality by ensuring that the articles had received external feedback.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The search strategy and databases identified as much of the relevant literature as possible.

    “To find as much of the relevant literature as possible, between July 2018 and May 2020 we conducted a search of the following databases: the Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC); Scopus; PsycInfo; Science Direct; Sage Journals; and Taylor & Francis.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Teacher well-being plays a role in teachers' lives.

    “Given the role that TWB plays in teachers' lives, it is important to investigate how it can be fostered.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Teacher well-being can be fostered.

    “it is important to investigate how it can be fostered.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Teacher well-being is a multidimensional construct.

    “Even the selection criteria regarding the multidimensionality of TWB do not sufficiently help narrow the scope of definitions”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Despite heterogeneity across studies, findings can be aggregated to identify generalizable factors.

    “Despite the vast heterogeneity of results, one factor that has some generalizable power is the role of social relations.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The reviewed studies' operationalizations of TWB are sufficiently comparable to synthesize findings across studies.

    “Due to the narrow focus and differences within the database, the results should be compared and interpreted with caution, as measurement differences as well as cultural influences may exist.”
7 of 7

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

3 of 3

Citations

Cites

Show all 199 references

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Fernandez Puig, 2017, Assessment of teachers' wellbeing and work health in subsidised schools, Revista Complutense de Ecudacion, 28, 897
  2. Sasmoko, 2017, Am I a well being teacher? (A review of subjective wellbeing for elementary teachers), Man in India, 97, 293

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Metadata

Authors
Hascher, T., & Waber, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Bern (CH)
  • Pädagogische Hochschule Bern (CH)
Corresponding author
Hascher, Tina
Venue
Educational Research Review
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-11
Volume
34
Pages
100411
ISSN
1747-938X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3211992861
Cited by
680
References
199
Citations by year
2026: 217 · 2025: 185 · 2024: 135 · 2023: 98 · 2022: 45
FWCI
17.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Educational Research Review (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Bern Open Repository and Information System (University of Bern) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Occupational Health and Burnout
  • Social Sciences › Education › Teacher Professional Development and Motivation
  • Social Sciences › Education › Teacher Education and Leadership Studies
Keywords
teacher well-being, interpersonal relationships, teaching quality, teacher stress

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