Journal Article

Motivational traits and values in teachers’ professional experience: exploring the nexus of work values and life satisfaction among Chinese educators

Hongyu, Guo, Qing, Ai

2025

Overview

Background The interplay between motivational traits and work values is essential for understanding life satisfaction among Chinese high school English teachers. This study investigates how motivation and teaching work values relate to life satisfaction, situating the research within the unique context of Chinese educators. Methods Participants are Chinese High School English teachers ( N  = 742) who answered a self-reported questionnaire conducted online using a web survey during April-May 2024. The analysis included hypothesis testing using Model 4 of the PROCESS macro for SPSS, which examines both the direct and indirect effects of an independent variable (X) on a dependent variable (Y) through a mediator (M). This model was tested separately for each independent variable: personal mastery, competitive excellence, and motivation anxiety. Results The results indicated that personal mastery is positively associated with life satisfaction, and a significant positive relationship exists between personal mastery and work values. The findings also revealed a positive association between work values and life satisfaction, with mediation analysis showing that work values partially mediate the relationship between personal mastery and life satisfaction. While the direct effect of competitive excellence on life satisfaction was not significant, its indirect effect through work values was significant. Conversely, although the direct effect of motivation anxiety on life satisfaction was significant, the indirect effect through work values was not. Conclusions These results underscore the importance of aligning work environments with educators’ values to enhance their professional performance and overall quality of life. Practical implications include guiding school administrators and policymakers to foster environments that support teachers’ motivational traits and work values, which can lead to improved job satisfaction, reduced stress, and greater retention among educators.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,BMC
• Subject: Adult / Analysis / Behavioral Science and Psychology / China / Chinese high school teachers / Clinical Psychology / Cognitive Psychology / Demographic aspects / East Asian People / English teachers / Female / Health aspects / Humans / Hypothesis testing (Psychology) / Job Satisfaction / Life satisfaction / Male / Middle Aged / Motivation / Motivation (Psychology) / Motivational traits / Personal Satisfaction / Psychological aspects / Psychology / Psychology Research / School Teachers - psychology / Social aspects / Social Values / Surveys and Questionnaires / Teachers / Work values / Young Adult