Work stress, health, and educational quality in preschools

The work as a preschool teacher is characterized by various demands (e.g., high noise levels, time pressure, and high responsibility). Preschool teachers not only experience high levels of work stress but also have a poorer health status compared to other occupational groups. Although it is assumed that higher levels of work stress and a poorer health status are related to a lower quality of educational processes, there is limited evidence on this topic. Especially in Austria, less is known about work stress, health, and educational quality in preschools. The project aims to investigate work stress and health of preschool teachers and to identify associations between various characteristics (e.g., working conditions, personal characteristics of preschool teachers), work stress, and health. Furthermore, the study focuses on educational quality in preschools, as this is considered important for the development of children`s skills. The study aims not only to investigate associations between work stress, health, and the quality of educational processes in preschool, but also to identify relationships between different aspects of educational quality (e.g., structural characteristics, beliefs and the quality of educational processes). Observations in preschools in Tyrol are carried out to collect data. In addition, preschool teachers participate with questionnaires and interviews. The project can provide possibilities for the improvement of work stress, health, and educational quality in preschools and makes a significant contribution to research in Early Childhood Education and Care in Austria.