An Investigation Of Pre-Service Preschool Teachers’ Occupational Anxiety Levels In Terms Of Different Variables

Abstract

Can we train well-equipped teachers who can achieve expected education quality in schools in these days? Do teacher candidates feel ready for their profession? The occupational anxiety levels of pre-service preschool teachers must be observed regularly in order to let them improve their self-confidence about their profession and take precautions to foster their self-confidence. The aim of this study is to determine the occupational anxiety levels of pre-service preschool teachers and to investigate their anxiety levels in terms of teacher candidates’ gender and associate’s degree. A questionnaire was used as a data collection tool and quantitative approach was employed in this study. Questionnaires were conducted to 226 4th grade pre-service preschool teachers in Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Keleşoğlu Education Faculty, Program of Preschool Education. Data of the study were collected with the Occupational Anxiety Scale, developed by Cabi & Yalçınalp (2013). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 and data were analyzed using the percentage, frequency and Mann Whitney U tests. The study results revealed that the occupational anxiety levels of pre-service preschool teachers is not very high and they feel ready to perform their job. The most remarkable finding of the study is that pre- service preschool teachers have very high anxiety levels about finding a position in a public school in the future.

Keywords

• occupational anxiety
• teacher training
• preschool teachers
• perception