An exploration of teachers' social goal orientations with the job demands–resources model

Positive teacher-student relationships represent an important social resource that helps teachers adapt instruction to learning needs and promote well-being. However, research on the link between teachers’ motivation for connecting with students and their work adjustment is limited. This study applied the Job Demands-Resources Model to investigate how teachers’ social approach and avoidance goals impacted their well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment, with burnout and work engagement as mediating variables. Structural equation modelling of findings from K-12 Canadian practicing teachers (N = 154; covariates: gender, grade level, pre-/mid-COVID-19) showed teachers with stronger social avoidance goals (putting minimum effort into student relationships) to be less engaged and experience greater burnout that, in turn, led to lower well-being, job satisfaction, and commitment. Copyright © 2021 AERA21.