How mentor teachers and emotions influence professional identity and career decisions of preservice preschool teachers

This study examines how mentor teachers and teacher emotions influence the professional identity and career choices of preservice preschool teachers in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. A quantitative approach was adopted, with data collected from 230 preservice preschool teachers through validated...

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Main Authors: Xinyue Zhang, Mohd Nazri Bin Abdul Rahman, Haris Bin Abd Wahab, Lianying Qiu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1569062/full
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author Xinyue Zhang
Mohd Nazri Bin Abdul Rahman
Haris Bin Abd Wahab
Lianying Qiu
author_facet Xinyue Zhang
Mohd Nazri Bin Abdul Rahman
Haris Bin Abd Wahab
Lianying Qiu
author_sort Xinyue Zhang
collection DOAJ
description This study examines how mentor teachers and teacher emotions influence the professional identity and career choices of preservice preschool teachers in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. A quantitative approach was adopted, with data collected from 230 preservice preschool teachers through validated questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships between mentor support, teacher emotions, professional identity, and career choice. Results revealed that mentor support significantly enhanced both professional identity and career decisions, with teacher emotions serving as both mediators and moderators in these relationships. These findings underscore the critical role of mentorship and emotional experiences in shaping career readiness and professional identity, highlighting the need for teacher education programs to integrate emotional support within mentorship frameworks to better prepare preservice teachers for their future roles.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2504-284X
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Education
spelling doaj-art-0d4bf94ab18347d5b9c014adb130ceae2025-08-26T05:27:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-08-011010.3389/feduc.2025.15690621569062How mentor teachers and emotions influence professional identity and career decisions of preservice preschool teachersXinyue Zhang0Mohd Nazri Bin Abdul Rahman1Haris Bin Abd Wahab2Lianying Qiu3Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Social Administration and Justice, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaNanchang Institute of Science and Technology, Nanchang, ChinaThis study examines how mentor teachers and teacher emotions influence the professional identity and career choices of preservice preschool teachers in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. A quantitative approach was adopted, with data collected from 230 preservice preschool teachers through validated questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships between mentor support, teacher emotions, professional identity, and career choice. Results revealed that mentor support significantly enhanced both professional identity and career decisions, with teacher emotions serving as both mediators and moderators in these relationships. These findings underscore the critical role of mentorship and emotional experiences in shaping career readiness and professional identity, highlighting the need for teacher education programs to integrate emotional support within mentorship frameworks to better prepare preservice teachers for their future roles.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1569062/fullmentor teachersteacher emotionsprofessional identitycareer choicepreservice teacherspreschool education
spellingShingle Xinyue Zhang
Mohd Nazri Bin Abdul Rahman
Haris Bin Abd Wahab
Lianying Qiu
How mentor teachers and emotions influence professional identity and career decisions of preservice preschool teachers
Frontiers in Education
mentor teachers
teacher emotions
professional identity
career choice
preservice teachers
preschool education
title How mentor teachers and emotions influence professional identity and career decisions of preservice preschool teachers
title_full How mentor teachers and emotions influence professional identity and career decisions of preservice preschool teachers
title_fullStr How mentor teachers and emotions influence professional identity and career decisions of preservice preschool teachers
title_full_unstemmed How mentor teachers and emotions influence professional identity and career decisions of preservice preschool teachers
title_short How mentor teachers and emotions influence professional identity and career decisions of preservice preschool teachers
title_sort how mentor teachers and emotions influence professional identity and career decisions of preservice preschool teachers
topic mentor teachers
teacher emotions
professional identity
career choice
preservice teachers
preschool education
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1569062/full
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AT harisbinabdwahab howmentorteachersandemotionsinfluenceprofessionalidentityandcareerdecisionsofpreservicepreschoolteachers
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