Exploring teacher motivation, satisfaction and health in the secondary sector

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate motivation, job satisfaction, commitment and general health among 237 Maltese and Gozitan secondary school teachers. From this research, it resulted that our teachers are mostly extrinsically motivated, mainly attracted to teaching by the family commitment factor. A high percentage of teachers were found to be generally satisfied with their job. The most satisfying aspects of their work, were when their students achieved success in some way, the "official" working hours and when working with higher academic ability pupils. Teachers stated that they spend the highest amount of their professional time on face-to-face teaching. Altruism and family factors rather than personal and career oriented factors, were the items the teachers felt mostly committed to. To a certain extent, the majority of the teachers did not have excessive stress symptoms, as it resulted, that the more satisfied teachers are with their job, the least likely are they to have any stress symptoms. Several significant main effects among demographic variables, when compared to the factors mentioned above resulted. These findings are interpreted in the light of appropriate characteristics of the Maltese educational system. Limitations of the study, future research and intervention directions are also discussed.