Teacher Well-Being—A Conceptual Systematic Review (2020–2023)

Teacher well-being (TWB) is increasingly recognized as being influential on educational outcomes, teacher retention, and overall school performance. However, despite a growing body of empirical research, TWB remains conceptually ambiguous, with multiple, often conflicting definitions and models, whi...

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Main Authors: Laura Maria Kurrle, Julia Warwas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Education Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/6/766
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author Laura Maria Kurrle
Julia Warwas
author_facet Laura Maria Kurrle
Julia Warwas
author_sort Laura Maria Kurrle
collection DOAJ
description Teacher well-being (TWB) is increasingly recognized as being influential on educational outcomes, teacher retention, and overall school performance. However, despite a growing body of empirical research, TWB remains conceptually ambiguous, with multiple, often conflicting definitions and models, which hinders the comparability of findings. The essential question (<i>What are the conceptual models of TWB that form the basis of studies?</i>) is answered with a Conceptual Systematic Review (CSR), analyzing 168 recent publications, to synthesize the usage and frequency of TWB-related terms. The CSR identifies three perspectives—Conditions, Components, and Outcomes—each comprising multiple categories and subcategories that often show overlaps or inconsistencies. Our review reveals that within a widely shared notion of TWB as a psychological construct with positive cognitive and affective connotations, certain sets of factors, in particular individual factors such as beliefs/evaluations and emotions/affect, are proposed as conditions in some studies and as components in other studies. These results call for clearer distinctions between TWB’s constitutive elements and its (hypothetically) determining elements. By offering a systematic framework for understanding and sorting research on TWB, the reported review provides a foundation for future studies. Ultimately, a precise conceptualization could inform future interventions and policies aiming to foster TWB.
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spelling doaj-art-ec5685aa42ad43e6927f9f09fdd02f632025-08-20T03:27:18ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-06-0115676610.3390/educsci15060766Teacher Well-Being—A Conceptual Systematic Review (2020–2023)Laura Maria Kurrle0Julia Warwas1Department of Education, Work and Society, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyDepartment of Education, Work and Society, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, GermanyTeacher well-being (TWB) is increasingly recognized as being influential on educational outcomes, teacher retention, and overall school performance. However, despite a growing body of empirical research, TWB remains conceptually ambiguous, with multiple, often conflicting definitions and models, which hinders the comparability of findings. The essential question (<i>What are the conceptual models of TWB that form the basis of studies?</i>) is answered with a Conceptual Systematic Review (CSR), analyzing 168 recent publications, to synthesize the usage and frequency of TWB-related terms. The CSR identifies three perspectives—Conditions, Components, and Outcomes—each comprising multiple categories and subcategories that often show overlaps or inconsistencies. Our review reveals that within a widely shared notion of TWB as a psychological construct with positive cognitive and affective connotations, certain sets of factors, in particular individual factors such as beliefs/evaluations and emotions/affect, are proposed as conditions in some studies and as components in other studies. These results call for clearer distinctions between TWB’s constitutive elements and its (hypothetically) determining elements. By offering a systematic framework for understanding and sorting research on TWB, the reported review provides a foundation for future studies. Ultimately, a precise conceptualization could inform future interventions and policies aiming to foster TWB.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/6/766teacher well-beingconceptual reviewwell-being componentsmental healthstress
spellingShingle Laura Maria Kurrle
Julia Warwas
Teacher Well-Being—A Conceptual Systematic Review (2020–2023)
Education Sciences
teacher well-being
conceptual review
well-being components
mental health
stress
title Teacher Well-Being—A Conceptual Systematic Review (2020–2023)
title_full Teacher Well-Being—A Conceptual Systematic Review (2020–2023)
title_fullStr Teacher Well-Being—A Conceptual Systematic Review (2020–2023)
title_full_unstemmed Teacher Well-Being—A Conceptual Systematic Review (2020–2023)
title_short Teacher Well-Being—A Conceptual Systematic Review (2020–2023)
title_sort teacher well being a conceptual systematic review 2020 2023
topic teacher well-being
conceptual review
well-being components
mental health
stress
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/6/766
work_keys_str_mv AT lauramariakurrle teacherwellbeingaconceptualsystematicreview20202023
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