PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY, COMMITMENT, WORK VALUES, AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODEL ON JOB SATISFACTION AMONG PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Abstract
Job satisfaction among public elementary school teachers has become a significant concern due to increasing professional demands, workplace challenges, and evolving educational expectations. Low levels of job satisfaction may adversely affect teachers' performance, commitment, and overall well-being, ultimately influencing the quality of education provided to learners. These challenges underscore the need to identify the factors that contribute to teachers' job satisfaction. This study aimed to develop a structural model explaining job satisfaction among public elementary school teachers. A quantitative, non-experimental research design employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized. Data were collected from public elementary school teachers using standardized questionnaires measuring professional identity, commitment, work values, spiritual well-being, and job satisfaction. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and SEM were employed to examine the relationships among the variables and determine the best-fitting structural model. The findings revealed that professional identity, commitment, work values, and spiritual well-being were all significantly associated with job satisfaction. The proposed structural model demonstrated acceptable goodness-of-fit indices, confirming its adequacy in explaining teachers' job satisfaction. Furthermore, spiritual well-being and professional commitment emerged as the strongest predictors of job satisfaction. The study concludes that strengthening teachers' professional identity, commitment, work values, and spiritual well-being can enhance job satisfaction. The developed structural model provides empirical evidence that may guide educational leaders and policymakers in designing interventions that promote teacher well-being, professional development, and organizational effectiveness.
SDG Indicator: 4 Quality Education, 3 Good Health and Well-Being, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Aggarwal, Anshika, Devanshi Sharma, Pranika Vohra, Sneha Sharma, and Vadini Sharma. Work environment and job satisfaction among employees. The International Journal of Indian Psychology 11, no. 1 (2023): 1248-1254. https://doi.org/10.25215/1101.126
Al-Jadidi, N. A. A. A. (2022). Job satisfaction among early childhood female teachers and its impact on professional commitment. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 12(3), 119–129. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1362577
Bureros, A. R. M. S. (2022). Job satisfaction and work commitment of hospitality industry employees in Dapitan City. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research, 3(7), 1295–1301. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.03.07.09
Calora, E. A. R. (2023). Organizational conflict resolution skills of school leaders. International Journal of Academic Pedagogical Research, 7(7), 25–28. https://www.ijeais.org/ijapr/
Che Daud, S., Husaini, H., & Mohd Arif, N. Z. Z. (2023). Exploring the research landscape in Malaysian higher education: A Scopus-based analysis of publications from 2018 to 2022. Journal of Information and Knowledge Management (JIKM), 2, 463–472.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research Sage. https://books.google.com/books/about/Research_Design.html?id=335ZDwAAQBAJ
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4899-2271-7
Dong, J., & Yan, S. (2022). A multicriteria approach for measuring employee well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.795960
Dwiyanti, R., & Khoerunnisa, E. (2021). Job satisfaction, spirituality, and happiness of the employee of correctional institution. Social Values and Society, 3(1), 40–43. https://doi.org/10.26480/svs.01.2021.40.43
Fajagutana, A. B., & Guhao, E. S., Jr. (2022). Structural equation model on creativity and innovation of library personnel in Davao Region [Preprint]. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1390599/v1
Farrell, T. S., Baurain, B., & Lewis, M. (2020). ‘We teach who we are’: Contemplation, reflective practice and spirituality in TESOL. RELC Journal, 51(3), 337-346. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688220915647
Flores, M. A. (2023). Teacher education in times of crisis: Enhancing or deprofessionalising the teaching profession? European Journal of Teacher Education,46(2),199–202. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2023. 2210410
Garcia, N., & Paglinawan, Z. (2024). The mediating effect of professional commitment in the relationship between job satisfaction and workplace spirituality among public school teachers. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 21(10). https://www.ejournals.ph/article.php?id=27876
Giray, L. (2021). Values at work: An evaluation on the work values of Filipino secondary teachers. Journal of Management, Economics, and Industrial Organization, 5(2), 48–62. https://doi.org/10.31039/jomeino.2021.5.2.5
Hair, J. F., Jr., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using R: A workbook. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7
Herzberg, F. (1959). The motivation to work (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. International Labour Organization. (2022). Decent work and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/sdg-2030
Karimi, H., & Momeni, N. (2022). Spiritual well-being and its relationship with organizational commitment and job satisfaction among educators. Journal of Religion and Health, 61(3), 2041–2056. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01345-9
Kim, L. E., & Asbury, K. (2020). "Like a rug had been pulled from under you": The impact of COVID-19 on teachers in England during the first six weeks of the UK lockdown. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(4), 1062–1083. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12381
Kline, R. B. (2023). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (5th ed.). Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/Principles-and-Practice-of-Structural-Equation-Modeling/Rex-Kline/9781462551910?srsltid=AfmBOopkdJ8KhHYYz3HyaHwhxPUVKksh2nax54kZMYoZsOFhFnCv-viy
Laurenio, R. E., Jr., & Cabal, C. M. (2023). Filipino work values and job satisfaction of teachers in the Division of Zambales. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research, 4(4), 1119–1129. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.04.04.14
Lewis, A. (2024). Spirituality in teaching: Exploring its impact on teacher
motivation and student engagement. International Journal of Education and
Practice, 12(1), 33–44. https://doi.org/10.18488/61.v12i1.3456
Licudan-Credo, J. A., & Naparota, L. P. (2022). Job satisfaction and quality of work life among local government employees in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research, 3(7), 1295–1301. https://doi.org/10.22161/ijels.76.21
Maango, H. (2023). The effect of compensation and work culture on employee performance (Study at one of the conventional banks in West Java). West Science Interdisciplinary Studies, 1(7), 411–418. https://doi.org/10.58812/wsis.v1i07.130
Neri, J. C., Obradas, L. A., Lagas, F. A., & Ejercito, C. R. (2025). Work values and teaching performance of teachers in diocesan schools in Misamis Occidental. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 39(2), 28–40. https://journalajess.com/index.php/AJESS/article/view/1916
Nissim, Y., & Simon, E. (2023). Divided village, divided identity? Exploring the professional identity of teachers amid the geopolitical configuration in Al-Ghajar. Behavioral Sciences, 13(11), 878. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13110878
OECD. (2020). TALIS 2018 results (Volume II): Teachers and school leaders as valued professionals. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/19cf08df-en
Olua, E. F. (2022). Work values of public secondary school teachers. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies 2(3). https://www.ijams-bbp.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IJAMS-MARCH-335-349-1.pdf
Paloutzian, R. F., & Ellison, C. W. (1982). Loneliness, spiritual well-being and the quality of life. In L. A. Peplau & D. Perlman (Eds.), Loneliness: A sourcebook of current theory, research and therapy (pp. 224–237). Wiley-Interscience. https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=vi&user=Sgy6G_AAAAAJ&citation_for_view=Sgy6G_AAAAAJ:Y0pCki6q_DkC
Pong, H. K. (2024). The relationship between spiritual well-being and game addiction of youths: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Beliefs & Values, 45(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/13617672.2023.2283198
Pont, S. T. (2022). Job satisfaction and spirituality in the workplace: A case study in resilience. Crisis, Stress, and Human Resilience: An International Journal, 4(2), 109–119.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370375496_JOB_SATISFACTION_AND_SPIRITUALITY_IN_THE_WORKPLACE_A_CASE_STUDY_IN_RESILIENCE
Quines, L. A., & Piñero, M. Y. (2022). The mediating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between teamwork skills and work values of teachers. European Journal of Education Studies, 9(11). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v9i11.4520
Raosoft, Inc. (2004). Sample size calculator. https://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html
Rojas, E. G. P., & Guhao, E. S., Jr. (2022). The influence of transformational leadership of commissioned police officers and ethical climate on job satisfaction of non-commissioned police officers in Agusan del Sur. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 7(5), 1028–1036. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6644068
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective: Definitions, theory, practices, and future directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61, 101860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101860.
Salinas, A. M., & Quines, M. G. (2023). Reflective thinking skills and positive personality traits of public elementary school teachers: The mediating effect of work values. American Journal of Education and Technology, 2(3), 47–56. https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajet/article/view/823
Samosa, R., Blanquisco, M. J. P., & Mangansat, N. J. (2023). Professional well-being of public-school teachers and their school organizational health: Input for mindfulness-based interventions program. International Journal of Academic Pedagogical Research, 7(5), 1–17. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED629257.pdf
Seema, S., Choudhary, V., & Saini, G. (2021). Effect of job satisfaction on moonlighting intentions: Mediating effect of organisational commitment. European Research on Management and Business Economics, 27(1), 100137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iedeen.2020.100137
Skaalvik, E. M., & Skaalvik, S. (2021). Teacher well-being and job satisfaction: Perceptions of school goal structure, teacher self-efficacy, and school climate. Social Psychology of Education, 24(6), 1385–1405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-021-09651-4
Songcog, J. M., & Guhao, E. S., Jr. (2020). A structural equation model on job satisfaction among non-teaching personnel in private higher education institutions in Region XII, Philippines. Review of Integrative Business and Economics Research, 9, 480–537. https://buscompress.com/uploads/3/4/9/8/34980536/riber_9-s2_51_h19-061_480-537.pdf
Sun, B., Zhu, F., Lin, S., Sun, J., Wu, Y., & Xiao, W. (2022). How is professional identity associated with teacher career satisfaction? A cross-sectional design to test the multiple mediating roles of psychological empowerment and work engagement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9009. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159009
Susanto, E., Wahyudi, S., & Suharto, D. (2022). The impact of work-life balance on job satisfaction and performance: The moderating role of family-supportive supervisor behaviors. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 906876. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.906876
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 33–47). Brooks/Cole. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-01466-005
Toropova, A., Myrberg, E., & Johansson, S. (2021). Teacher job satisfaction: The importance of school working conditions and teacher characteristics. Educational Review, 73(1), 71–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2019.1705247
UNESCO. (2021). Reimagining our futures together: A new social contract for education. UNESCO Publishing. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000379707
UNESCO, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, UNICEF, World Bank, & OECD. (2022). From learning recovery to education transformation: Insights and reflections from the 4th survey of national education responses to COVID-19 school closures. OECD Publishing. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2022/09/from-learning-recovery-to-education-transformation_5f291936/a79f55ac-en.pdf
Velasco, L. B., & Baer, A. G. (2022). Teaching competencies and professional commitment: Relationship to job satisfaction of senior high school teachers. Ivysci Journal of Education, 1(2), 45–57. https://www.ivysci.com/articles/6535310
Wang, N., Bai, W., & Jiang, S. (2021). The relationship between psychological capital and teacher happiness: A meta-analysis. Psychological Monthly, 16(16), 9-11.
Westover, J. H., & Andrade, M. S. (2024). The influence of employee activation on gender differences in job satisfaction. Journal of Business Diversity, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.33423/jbd.v24i2.7121
Zhang, S., & Jin, Y. (2022). Work values, work engagement, and job satisfaction among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Sustainability, 14(3), 1353. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031353
Zhang, T., Feng, J., Jiang, H., Zhang, L., Zhao, Y., Wang, Y., & Qiao, Y. (2021). Association of professional identity, job satisfaction, and burnout with turnover intention among general practitioners in China: Evidence from a national survey. BMC Health Services Research, 21, 382. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06322-6
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v13i9.7011
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mary Jane M. Asturias, Lyndon A. Quines

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright © 2015-2026. European Journal of Education Studies (ISSN 2501 - 1111) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All authors who send their manuscripts to this journal and whose articles are published on this journal retain full copyright of their articles. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).



