Shared values and social support as predictors of teachers’ motivation and well-being

The purpose of the present research was to test assumptions in the Shared Values-Social Support (SV-SS) model of teacher motivation and well-being. The model proposes that shared values and social support from both colleagues and the school leadership are correlated constructs that can be represented by a second-order factor. The model further proposes that shared values and social support affect teacher motivation and well-being. Participants in two studies were 2569 (study 1) and 1145 (study 2) Norwegian teachers in compulsory school (grade 1–10). The data were analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis and SEM analysis using the AMOS 25 program. The analyses of the two sets of teacher data provided evidence for the assumptions underlying the SV-SS model. The factor analysis supported a model in which a second-order factor was indicated by measures of shared values, supportive colleagues, and supportive school leadership. In the SEM models, a second-order shared values-social support variable positively predicted teacher job satisfaction, sense of belonging, and collective teacher efficacy. In contrast, motivation to leave the teaching profession was indirectly, but negatively predicted by shared values and social support. Study 1 also revealed that a mastery-oriented school goal structure was strongly associated with teachers’ perceptions of sharing values with their colleagues as well as working in a supportive environment.