Relationship between Coping with Differences in Views on Childcare, Reflection, and Job Satisfaction: Examined from the Psychological Safety Perspective

Abstract

  This study investigated how coping with differences in views on childcare relates to reflection through colleagues, job satisfaction, and psychological safety. An online survey and a questionnaire survey targeting teachers in early childhood education and care, were conducted, and the data from 142 respondents were analyzed. The results revealed that (1) differences in views on childcare among colleagues can occur in any childcare settings, (2) the use of problem-solving strategies promotes reflection through colleagues, and the use of dominating strategies suppresses such reflection, (3) the use of problem-solving strategies increases job satisfaction and the use of avoidance strategies decreases job satisfaction, and (4) psychological safety promotes the use of problem-solving strategies and discourages the use of avoidance strategies. The above results show the usefulness of problem-solving strategies for differences in views on childcare and the importance of psychological safety in childcare settings. In the future, factors that promote problem-solving strategies other than psychological safety, and factors that enhance psychological safety should be clarified.