The Mediating Effect of Childcare Teacher's Job Stress on the Relationship Between Grit and Turnover Interntion

Abstract

Objective Childcare teacher's job stress is high and every year, over 20% of teachers quit their jobs. In this study, we examine whether childcare teacher's grit, defined as passion and perseverance for a long term goal, predicts job stress, which, in turn, predicts turnover intention. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 318 childcare teachers completed an online survey. SPSS 22.0 and PROCESS macro were used to test the mediating effect of job stress on the relationship between teacher's grit and turnover intention. Results Grittier teachers had lower turnover intention compared to their less gritty colleagues, even after controlling for important covariates such as gender, center type, teaching experience, and salary. Furthermore, job stress mediated the negative relationship between grit and turnover intention. Conclusion These findings shed light on why some childcare teachers are more likely stay in the classroom than are others. Educational and training programs for childcare teachers should pay close attention to personal characteristics, such as grit, to increase teacher retention. Keywords: child care teacher, grit, turnover intention, job stress