Toward a better understanding of the conceptual foundation of "teacher well-being at work": A critical review of the literature
Keywords:
well-being at work, teachers, hedonia, eudaimonia, positive psychologyAbstract
The study of teacher well-being has become very popular in recent years. However, the polysemy of the term "well-being" can be an obstacle, especially when comparing research results. The purpose of this critical literature review is to ground the concept of teacher well-being in contemporary conceptual discussions. After an overview of current trends, we analyze thirteen definitions of well-being used to study this phenomenon among teachers. This non-exhaustive review allows us to exemplify three types of definitions. At the end of this exercise, we note the differences between "well-being", "well-being at work" and "teachers’ well-being".
References
Acton, R. et Glasgow, P. (2015). Teacher wellbeing in neoliberal contexts: A review of the literature. Australian journal of teacher education, 40(8), 99-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2015v40n8.6
Aldrup, K., Klusmann, U., Lüdtke, O., Göllner, R. et Trautwein, U. (2018). Student misbehavior and teacher well-being: Testing the mediating role of the teacher-student relationship. Learning and instruction, 58, 126-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2018.05.006
Bakker, A. B. et Oerlemans, W. (2011). Subjective well-being in organizations. Dans G. M. Spreitzer et K. S. Cameron (dir.),The Oxford Handbook of Positive Organizational Scholarship, 178-189. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199734610.001.0001
Biétry, F. et Creusier, J. (2013). Proposition d’une échelle de mesure positive du bien-être au travail (EPBET). Revue de gestion des ressources humaines, 1 (1), 23-41. https://doi.org/10.3917/grhu.087.0023
Bohart, A. C. et Greening, T. (2001). Humanistic psychology and positive psychology. American Psychologist, 56(1), 81-82. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.1.81
Bryson, A., Forth, J. et Stokes, L. (2017). Does employees’ subjective well-being affect workplace performance?. Human relations, 70(8), 1017-1037. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726717693073
Chen, F. F., Jing, Y., Hayes, A. et Lee, J. M. (2013). Two concepts or two approaches? A bifactor analysis of psychological and subjective well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(3), 1033-1068. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10902-012-9367-x
Collie, R. J., Shapka, J. D., Perry, N. E. et Martin, A. J. (2015). Teacher well-being: Exploring its components and a practice-oriented scale. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 33(8), 744-756. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0734282915587990
Colomeischi, A. A. (2015). Predictors for wellbeing: Emotional factors and expectancy for success. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, (190), 48-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.915
Cowen, E. L. (1994). The enhancement of psychological wellness: Challenges and opportunities. American Journal of Community Psychology, 22(2), 149-179. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02506861
Creusier, J. (2013). Clarification conceptuelle du bien-être au travail. Actes des congrès de l’Association francophone de gestion des ressources humaines. http://www.e-rh.org/dz- agrh-reference-rh/2013-creusier.pdf
Dagenais-Desmarais, V. (2010). Du bien-être psychologique au travail : fondements théoriques, conceptualisation et instrumentation du construit [Thèse de doctorat, Université de Montréal]. https://papyrus.bib.umontreal.ca/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1866/3916/Dagenais- Desmarais_V eronique_2010_these.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y
Dagenais-Desmarais, V. et Savoie, A. (2012). What is psychological well-being, really? A grassroots approach from the organizational sciences. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(4), 659-684. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-011-9285-3
Deci, E. L. et Ryan, R. M. (2008). Favoriser la motivation optimale et la santé mentale dans les divers milieux de vie. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 49(1), 24-34. https://doi.org/10.1037/0708-5591.49.1.24
Delle Fave, A., Brdar, I., Freire, T., Vella-Brodrick, D. et Wissing, M. P. (2011). The eudaimonic and hedonic components of happiness: Qualitative and quantitative findings. Social Indicators Research, 100(2), 185-207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-010-9632-5
Diener, E. (2009). Conclusion: Future directions in measuring well-being. Dans E. Diener (dir.), assessing well-being. Social indicators research series (vol. 39, p. 267-274). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2354-4_13
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J. et Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of personality assessment, 49 (1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
Diener, E., Lucas, R. E. et Oishi, S. (2002). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and life satisfaction. Handbook of Positive Psychology, 2, 63-73. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195187243.013.0017
Dreer, B. et Gouasé, N. (2022). Interventions fostering well-being of schoolteachers: A review of research. Oxford Review of Education, 48(5), 587-605. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2021.2002290
Fédération canadienne des enseignants et des enseignantes (2020). Étude sur la pandémie : Sondage éclair sur la santé mentale du personnel enseignant. https://www.educationsolidarite.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/etude_sur_la_pandemie_sondage_eclair_sur_la _sante_mentale_du_personnel._.pdf
Fernet, C., Chanal, J. et Guay, F. (2017). What fuels the fire: Job- or task-specific motivation (or both)? On the hierarchical and multidimensional nature of teacher motivation in relation to job burnout. Work & Stress, 31(2), 145-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678373.2017.1303758
Fletcher, G. (2016). Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Well-Being. Routledge.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and- build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218-226. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.218
García-Arroyo, J. A., Osca Segovia, A. et Peiró, J. M. (2019). Meta-analytical review of teacher burnout across 36 societies: The role of national learning assessments and gender egalitarianism. Psychology & Health, 34(6), 733-753. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2019.1568013
García-Carmona, M., Marín, M. D. et Aguayo, R. (2019). Burnout syndrome in secondary school teachers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Psychology of Education, 22(1), 189-208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-018-9471-9
Ghanizadeh, A. et Jahedizadeh, S. (2015). Teacher burnout: A review of sources and ramifications. Journal of Education, Society and Behavioural Science, 6(1), 24-39. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJESBS/2015/15162
Gilbert, M. H., Dagenais-Desmarais, V. et Savoie, A. (2011). Validation d’une mesure de santé psychologique au travail. Revue Européenne de Psychologie Appliquée/European Review of Applied Psychology, 61(4), 195-203. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2011.09.001
Goodman, F. R., Disabato, D. J., Kashdan, T. B. et Kauffman, S. B. (2018). Measuring well-being: A comparison of subjective well-being and PERMA. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(4), 321-332. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2017.1388434
Goyette, N. (2014). Cultiver le bien-être lors de la formation initiale pour prévenir la détresse psychologique des enseignants en insertion professionnelle : de nouvelles perspectives à l’horizon. Formation et profession. Revue scientifique et internationale en éducation, 22(1), 72-74. https://doi.org/ 10.18162/fp.2014.a38
Goyette, N. (2016). Développer le sens du métier pour favoriser le bien-être en formation initiale à l’enseignement. Canadian Journal of Education, 39(4), 1-29.
Goyette, N. et Martineau, S. (2018). Les défis de la formation initiale des enseignants et le développement d’une identité professionnelle favorisant le bien-être. Phronesis, 7(4), 4-19. https://doi.org/10.7202/1056316
Granziera, H., Collie, R. et Martin, A. (2021). Understanding teacher wellbeing through job demands-resources theory. Dans C. F. Mansfield (dir.), Cultivating Teacher Resilience: International Approaches, Applications and Impact (pp. 229-244). Springer.
Green, S., Jarden, A., et Leach, C. (2021). Coaching for workplace wellbeing. In W.-A. Smith, I. Boniwell, & S. Green (Eds.), Positive psychology coaching in the workplace (pp. 199–219). Springer Nature Switzerland AG. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79952-6_11
Hall-Kenyon, K. M., Bullough, R. V., MacKay, K. L. et Marshall, E. E. (2014). Preschool teacher well-being: A review of the literature. Early Childhood Education Journal, 42(3), 153-162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-013-0595-4
Harter, J. K., Schmidt, F. L. et Keyes, C. L. (2003). Well-being in the workplace and its relationship to business outcomes: A review of the Gallup studies. Dans C. L. M. Keyes et J. Haidt (dir.), Flourishing : Positive Psychology and The Life Well-Lived (p. 205-224). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10594-000
Harzing.com (2016). Publish or Perish. Harzing.com. https://harzing.com/resources/publish-or-perish
Hascher, T. et Waber, J. (2021). Teacher well-being: A systematic review of the research literature from the year 2000–2019. Educational research review, 34, 100411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100411
Henderson, L. W. et Knight, T. (2012). Integrating the hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives to more comprehensively understand wellbeing and pathways to wellbeing. International Journal of Wellbeing, 2(3), 196-221. http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30052305
Herman, K. C., Hickmon-Rosa, J. E. et Reinke, W. M. (2018). Empirically derived profiles of teacher stress, burnout, self-efficacy, and coping and associated student outcomes. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 20(2), 90-100. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1098300717732066
Huta, V. (2015). An overview of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being concepts. Dans L. Reinecke et M. B. Oliver (éd.), Handbook of media use and well-being (p. 14-33). Routledge.
Huta, V. (2017). Meta-Positive-Psychology. Dans M. White, G. Slemp et A. Murray (dir.), Future Directions in Well-Being (p. 175-180). Springer.
Huta, V. et Ryan, R. M. (2010). Pursuing pleasure or virtue: The differential and overlapping well-being benefits of hedonic and eudaimonic motives. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 735-762. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9171-4
Huta, V. et Waterman, A. S. (2014). Eudaimonia and its distinction from hedonia: Developing a classification and terminology for understanding conceptual and operational definitions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(6), 1425-1456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9485-0
Ilies, R., Wagner, D., Wilson, K., Ceja, L., Johnson, M., DeRue, S. et Ilgen, D. (2017). Flow at work and basic psychological needs: Effects on well‐being. Applied Psychology, 66(1), 3-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12075
Janovská, A., Orosová, O., & Janovský, J. (2017). Head teacher’s social support, personality variables and subjective well-being of Slovak primary teachers. Orbis scholae, 10(3), 71-87. https://doi.org/10.14712/23363177.2017.11
Jesson, J. K. et Lacey, F. M. (2006). How to do (or not to do) a critical literature review. Pharmacy Education, 6(2), 139-148.
Joshanloo, M. (2016). Revisiting the empirical distinction between hedonic and eudaimonic aspects of well-being using exploratory structural equation modeling. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(5), 2023-2036. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-015-9683-z
Joshanloo, M. (2019). Investigating the relationships between subjective well-being and psychological well-being over two decades. Emotion, 19(1), 183-187. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/emo0000414
Kahneman, D., Diener, E. et Schwarz, N. (Eds.). (1999). Well-being: Foundations of hedonic psychology. Russell Sage Foundation.
Kashdan, T. B., Biswas-Diener, R. et King, L. A. (2008). Reconsidering happiness: The costs of distinguishing between hedonics and eudaimonia. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(4), 219-233. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760802303044
Keyes, C. L. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 207-222. https://doi.org/10.2307/3090197
Keyes, C. L. (2005). Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of health. Journal of consulting Consulting and clinical Clinical Psychology, 73(3), 539–548. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.73.3.539
Klusmann, U., Kunter, M., Trautwein, U., Lüdtke, O. et Baumert, J. (2008). Teachers’ occupational well-being and quality of instruction: The important role of self-regulatory patterns. Journal of Educational Psychology, 100(3), 702-715. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.100.3.702
Kotowski, S. E., Davis, K. G. et Barratt, C. L. (2022). Teachers feeling the burden of Covid-19: Impact on well-being, stress, and burnout. Work, 71(2), 407-415. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-210994
Lafortune, L., Lafortune, D. et Marion, C. (2011). Le bien-être dans la profession enseignante, une analyse de pratiques en équipe de collègues. Dans P.-A. Doudin, D. Curchod-Ruedi, L. Lafortune et N. Lafranchise (dir.), La santé psychosociale des enseignants et des enseignantes. Les Presses de l’Université du Québec.
Laguardia, J. G. et Ryan, R. M. (2000). Buts personnels, besoins psychologiques fondamentaux et bien-être : Théorie de l’autodétermination et applications. Revue québécoise de psychologie, 21(2), 281-304.
Lam, B.-H. (2019). Social Support, Well-Being, and Teacher Development. Springer.
Lambert, L., Passmore, H. A. et Holder, M. D. (2015). Foundational frameworks of positive psychology: Mapping well-being orientations. Canadian psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 56(3), 311-321. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/cap0000033
Lent, R. W. (2004). Toward a unifying theoretical and practical perspective on well-being and psychosocial adjustment. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51(4), 482-509. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.51.4.482
Lomas, T., Case, B. W., Cratty, F. et VanderWeele, T. J. (2021). A global history of happiness.
International Journal of Wellbeing, 11(4), 68-87. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v11i4.1457
Mamprin, C. (2019). Entre partage de vécus, soutien social et bien-être au travail: L’expérience d’un groupe de parole mené auprès d’enseignants. Revue québécoise de psychologie, 40(3), 145-167. https://doi.org/10.7202/1067553ar
Mamprin, C. (2021). Étude du soutien social mis en œuvre lors d’activités collectives conçues et menées pour favoriser le développement du bien-être au travail chez les enseignants. [Thèse de doctorat, Université de Montréal]. Papyrus, http://hdl.handle.net/1866/25995
Maranda, M.-F., Viviers, S. et Deslauriers, J.-S. (2014). Prévenir les problèmes de santé mentale au travail : Contribution d’une recherche-action en milieu scolaire. Presses de l’Université Laval.
Massé, R., Poulin, C., Dassa, C., Lambert, J., Bélair, S. et Battaglini, M. A. (1998). Élaboration et validation d’un outil de mesure du bien-être psychologique : L’ÉMMBEP. Canadian journal of public health, 89(5), 352-357.
McInerney, D. M., Korpershoek, H., Wang, H. et Morin, A. J. S. (2018). Teachers’ occupational attributes and their psychological wellbeing, job satisfaction, occupational self-concept and quitting intentions. Teaching and Teacher Education, 71, 145-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.12.020
Mitchell, J., Vella-Brodrick, D. et Klein, B. (2010). Positive psychology and the internet: A mental health opportunity. Electronic Journal of Applied Psychology, 6(2), 30-41. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.7790/ejap.v6i2.230
Mollen, D., Ethington, L. L. et Ridley, C. R. (2006). Positive psychology: Considerations and implications for counseling psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 34(2), 304-312. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000005283522
Oades, L. G. et Dulagil, A. (2017). Workplace and organizational well‐being. Dans L. G. Oades, M. F. Steger, A. Delle Fave et J. Passmore (dir.), The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Positivity and Strengths‐Based Approaches at Work (p. 248-271).
Park, N., Peterson, C. et Seligman, M. (2004). Strengths of character and well-being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), 603-619. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.23.5.603.50748
Pavot, W., Diener, E. et Suh, E. (1998). The temporal satisfaction with life scale. Journal of personality Assessment, 70(2), 340-354. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa7002_11
Peterson, C. (2006). A primer in positive psychology. Oxford University Press.
Pretsch, J., Flunger, B. et Schmitt, M. (2012). Resilience predicts well-being in teachers, but not in non-teaching employees. Social Psychology of Education, 15, 321-336. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-012-9180-8
Proctor, C. et Tweed, R. (2016). Measuring eudaimonic well-being. Dans J. Vittersø (dir.), Handbook Ofof Eudaimonic Well-Being (p. 277‐294). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42445-3_18
Raibley, J. R. (2012). Happiness is not well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(6), 1105-1129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-011-9309-z
Robertson, I. T. et Cooper, C. L. (2010). Full engagement: The integration of employee engagement and psychological well-being. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 31(4), 324-336. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437731011043348
Rusk, R. D. et Waters, L. E. (2013). Tracing the size, reach, impact, and breadth of positive psychology. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(3), 207-221. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.777766
Ryan, R. M. et Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual review of psychology, 52(1), 141-166. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141
Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069-1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069
Ryff, C. D. et Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719
Ryff, C. D. et Singer, B. H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal of happiness Happiness Studies, 9(1), 13-39. https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s10902-006-9019-0
Ryff, C. D., Boylan, J. M. et Kirsch, J. A. (2021). Eudaimonic and hedonic well-being. Dans M. T. Lee, L. D. Kubzanski et T. J. VanderWeele (dir.), Measuring well-being: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from the Social Sciences and the Humanities (p. 92-135). Oxford University Press.
Samman, E. (2007). Psychological and subjective well-being: A proposal for internationally comparable indicators. Oxford Development Studies, 35(4), 459-486. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600810701701939
Seligman, M. E. P. (2012). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Simon and Schuster.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2018). PERMA and the building blocks of well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(4), 333-335. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1437466
Seligman, M. E. P. et Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5
Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N. et Peterson, C. (2005). Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5), 410–421. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410
Smith, I. Boniwell et S. Green (dir.). Positive psychology coaching in the workplace. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79952-6_11
Soini, T., Pyhältö, K. et Pietarinen, J. (2010). Pedagogical well‐being: Reflecting learning and well‐ being in teachers’ work. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and practice, 16(6), 735-751. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2010.517690
Spilt, J. L., Koomen, H. M. Y. et Thijs, J. T. (2011, 2011//). Teacher wellbeing: The importance of teacher–student relationships. Educational Psychology Review, 23(4), 457-477. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-011-9170-y
Turban, D. B. et Yan, W. (2016). Relationship of eudaimonia and hedonia with work outcomes. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 31(6), 1006-1020. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-07-2015-0271
Van Horn, J. E., Taris, W. T., Schaufeli, W. B. et Schreurs, P. J. G. (2004). The structure of occupational well-being: A study among Dutch teachers. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology., 77(3), 365-375. https://doi.org/10.1348/0963179041752718
Vittersø, J. (dir.). (2016). Handbook of Eudaimonic Well-Being. Springer
Voyer, P. et Boyer, R. (2001). Le bien-être psychologique et ses concepts cousins, une analyse conceptuelle comparative. Santé mentale au Québec, 26(1), 274-296. https://doi.org/10.7202/014521ar
Warr, P. (2003). Well-being and the workplace. Dans D. Kahneman, E. Diener et N. Schwarz (dir.), Well-being: Foundations of hedonic psychology (p. 392–412). Russell Sage Foundation.
Waterman, A. S. (2008). Reconsidering happiness: A eudaimonist's perspective. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(4), 234-252. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760802303002
Watts, R. E. et Ergüner-Tekinalp, B. (2017). Positive psychology: A neo-Adlerian perspective. The Journal of individual psychology, 73(4), 328-337. https://doi.org/10.1353/jip.2017.0027
Wong, P. T. (2011). Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 52(2), 69-81. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0022511
Wong, P. T. (2021). Meaning in life. Dans A. C. Michalos (dir.), Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research (p. 1-6). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5
Wood, A. M. et Johnson, J. (2016). The Wiley Handbook of Positive Clinical Psychology. John Wiley & Sons.
Yildirim, K. (2014). Main factors of teachers’ professional well-being. Educational Research and Reviews, 9(6), 153-163. https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2013.1691
Yin, H., Huang, S. et Chen, G. (2019). The relationships between teachers’ emotional labor and their burnout and satisfaction: A meta-analytic review. Educational Research Review, 28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2019.100283
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 McGill Journal of Education / Revue des sciences de l'éducation de McGill

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
License
Copyright (c) 202X McGill Journal of Education / Revue des sciences de l'éducation de McGill
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.