Resilience-Building for Mental Health among Early Childhood Educators: A Systematic Review and Pilot-Study towards an EEG-VR Resilience Building Intervention

Psychological and Physiological Stress and Stressors in Early Childhood Educators: An Observational Pilot Study

While early childhood educators' mental health is important, it may also affect the well-being and education of their students. Yet, little research has described the stress and stressors of early childhood educators (ECEs), particularly as the pandemic wanes. This pilot study aimed to (1) describe ECEs' psychological and physiological stress and (2) examine the association between ECEs' psychological and physiological stress levels with stressors. A convenience sample of 67 ECEs, serving children 0-5 years old from 13 early educational centers completed surveys on psychological stress (perceived stress, anxiety, and depression), stressors (economic hardship, food insecurity, adverse childhood experiences), and demographics in Fall 2021. A subsample of ECEs provided hair samples, analyzed for cortisol, to estimate physiologic stress. Regarding stress, 63% met the criteria for major depressive disorder and 41% for generalized anxiety disorder. Only 26% were taking medications to manage mental health. About 25% experienced the stressors of food insecurity and economic hardship; 80% experienced at least one adverse childhood experience. Only education level significantly predicted perceived stress and depression - above and beyond stressors, household income, race, and age. The results have policy and practice implications for implementing evidence-based solutions to buffer stress and stressors in early childhood educators.

Perceived Crisis Management and Post-Traumatic Growth among Chinese Preschool Teachers during COVID-19: Risk Perception as a Moderator

This study explored post-traumatic growth among preschool teachers during COVID-19 and investigated associations among post-traumatic growth, perceived crisis management, and risk perception. The participants were 2921 Chinese preschool teachers (96.5% women). Teachers' reports of post-traumatic growth, perceived crisis management, and risk perception were analyzed by multivariate techniques. The results revealed that preschool teachers' post-traumatic growth was at an intermediate level, and there was no significant difference in post-traumatic growth by risk level area. Post-traumatic growth was significantly related to risk perception and perceived crisis management, and risk perception appeared to moderate the relationship between perceived crisis management and post-traumatic growth. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the roles of perceived crisis management and risk perception in preschool teachers' post-traumatic growth. Related suggestions for preschool teachers' mental health are discussed.

Impact of Perceived Skillset and Organizational Traits on Digital Wellbeing of Teachers: Mediating Role of Resilience

Given the current unstable and unpredictable circumstances, especially due to the COVID-19 education system has evolved, requiring frequently distinct skills, and coping behavior. This study intended to empirically test the impact of perceived skillset and organizational traits on teachers' digital wellbeing with the mediating role of three levels of resilience. To serve the cause, non-probability convenience sampling was chosen, and data was gathered through an online survey from 336 on-duty teachers in the education sector of Pakistan. The results of the study have been drawn by using the PLS-SEM partial least squares structural equation modeling technique through the Smart-PLS software 3.0 version. The findings show that perceived skillset had a positive and significant impact on digital wellbeing and organizational traits had an insignificant effect on digital wellbeing. Moreover, results indicate that organizational resilience and employee resilience positively mediate the relationship between perceived skillset and organizational traits on digital wellbeing. Similarly, findings illustrate that team resilience positively mediates the relationship between perceived skillset and digital wellbeing. Furthermore, results show that team resilience negatively and insignificantly mediates the relationship between organizational traits and digital wellbeing. Lastly, discussion, theoretical and practical implications were also discussed in this research article.