Étude des relations entre le développement professionnel des enseignants du postsecondaire et leur bien-être psychologique au travail
The goal of this study is to contribute to an improved understanding of the professional development (PD) of postsecondary teachers and its link to psychological well-being at work (PWBW). Several studies have shown that numerous personal (knowledge and skill development, attitudes, teacher beliefs, etc.) and professional (professional experience, collaborative exchanges, educational practices, and key student results) factors can have a considerable influence on PD. More specifically, this study will describe the attitudes of teachers who foster their PD, explore the relationship between teachers’ professional experiences and their PWBW, and identify PWBW indicators and their interrelation with PD.  To meet these objectives, we began exploratory research with teachers (n=218) in three French-language CEGEP colleges in Montreal. A questionnaire on the Psychological Well-Being at Work Index (PWBWI) comprised of 25 questions (Dagenais-Desmarais, 2010) was submitted online via Survey Monkey. A principal components factor analysis revealed that the teachers’ PWBW was made up of five factors: fulfillment at work, interpersonal compatibility, feelings of competence, desire to get involved, and perceived recognition at work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, after which we proceeded to qualitative cross-sectional (n=12) and vertical (n=2) case analyses. The results showed that teachers’ attitudes affect their knowledge and skill development, educational practices, collaborative exchanges, and perceptions regarding key student results. It also appears that professional experience affects various PWBW factors. For example, extensive professional experience is associated with strong feelings of competence and a desire to get involved, but also with low levels of fulfillment and perceived recognition at work.   We can therefore conclude that direct correlations exist between PD and PWBW. In addition, there is a link between teachers’ attitudes towards teaching and the personal and professional factors that affect PD, hence the importance of considering teachers’ attitudes as a vital PD factor. Teachers’ professional experience is another important factor to consider in the college context, particularly for improving the PWBW necessary for teacher PD. Finally, four different PD profiles according to PD and PWBW levels have been identified (Aware-Fixed, Aware-Reserved, Aware-Active, and Perfectionist), and the results of our mixed analyses  demonstrated a correlation between teachers’ PD and their PWBW.
Professional development Psychological well-being at work Psychological distress at work Fulfillment at work Feelings of competence Interpersonal compatibility Desire to get involved Recognition at work