Evaluation of competency and job satisfaction by positive human psychology among physical education teachers at the university level: A systematic review

Yan, Tingting; Teo, Eng Wah; Lim, Boon Hooi; Lin, Bo

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1084961

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychol., 20 December 2022

Sec. Health Psychology

Volume 13 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1084961

Evaluation of competency and job satisfaction by positive human psychology among physical education teachers at the university level: A systematic review

$\r\nTingting Yan,$ Tingting Yan^1,2

Eng Wah Teo^1*

Boon Hooi Lim^1*

Bo Lin^1,2

¹Faculty of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
²School of Physical Education, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China

The study aimed to determine how a teacher’s competency at the university level related to professional commitment and job satisfaction. This systematic review intends to determine physical education teachers’ competency and job satisfaction. One of the main objectives of physical education programs is to increase various activities of the student, especially physical activities and participation in it. Students who participate in physical activities feel a variety of emotions, and these may enhance their mental and physical well-being. The study concerns the teachers’ satisfaction in effectively influencing and teaching the students. Job satisfaction refers to teachers’ feelings and positive attitudes toward their work. The five components of job satisfaction are pay, promotion, supervision, co-workers, and work itself. Job satisfaction is broken down into these five components. Work as a teacher is one of the most important components of a teacher’s or teacher’s success at work and one of the key criteria for the school’s achievement. Electronic libraries were explored, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, Bing Academic, and Cochrane. Appropriate keywords were used for searching the literature. By applying certain inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final studies were selected for evaluation. The study’s findings showed that physical education instructors had high levels of teaching competence and moderate levels of job satisfaction. The findings demonstrated that job satisfaction and competency rise when degree levels rise, and relatedness, skill, and autonomy self-motivation ensue. Students’ motivation for physical education was greatly influenced by the teachers’ support, motivation, and mastery climate. The self-determination theory positively enhances physical education from the teacher’s perspective on PE, increasing instruction effectiveness.

Introduction

Physical activity is the foundation and the primary teaching instrument in physical education. One of the main objectives of physical education programs is to increase pupils’ physical activity. Students who participate in physical activities feel a variety of emotions, and these may enhance their mental and physical well-being (Sparks et al., 2017; Oh and Song, 2021). Formal education and training can include physical education as a crucial component. Students also find physical education classes to be entertaining and satisfying. The educational system needs to be altered sometimes to strengthen its internal skills by selecting better inputs and a better structure with more suitable experiences. The outcomes of this system will meet the standards set by society for the educational system. Governments have used various tactics to achieve this goal, functioning to prepare teachers based on the fundamental competencies required for the profession of education should be considered (AlTobi et al., 2019). Modern education has developed to ensure that the educational system is responsive and adaptable to abrupt changes and the retraining of teachers and students at all stages and levels of education (Raj and Verma, 2018). Therefore, the education ministry has taken good care that can provide teachers with qualified scientific and educational backgrounds to understand the changes in society and adapt to their new roles, and this necessitates the development of teaching skills and competencies to allow the teacher to apply their area of expertise and instructional strategies (AlTobi et al., 2019).

The idea of competence is often used to imply quality or conforming to a standard. The idea of teacher competency encompasses the attitudes, information, and abilities that instructors ought to possess. Competencies results in better performance of the teachers in their respective jobs (Demir, 2015). A competent teacher is expected to perform their job efficiently in any particular situation teacher competence refers to a teacher’s ability to instruct effectively (De-Ketele, 1996; Bibi, 2005). According to Deakin and Turner (2008), a teacher’s competence is a composite collection of information, diverse abilities, understanding, beliefs, and attitudes that drive successful action to address the problem. According to Rychen and Salganik (2003), competence is the capacity to carry out complex acts with ease, accuracy, and adaptability. In the context of education, teacher competency is extremely important. It comprises three pillars (AlTobi et al., 2019).

The following are the main components of teaching competencies (Figure 1):

1. Emotional competencies: These include an individual’s performance as well as their emotional behaviour, trends, values, and beliefs. These competencies encompass various topics, including an individual’s sensitivity, self-acceptance, and career direction.

2. Performing competencies: The abilities demonstrated by a person, which comprise psycho-motor abilities and resources for physical and motor development.

3. Productive competencies: A teacher’s productivity depends on the teacher’s skill training and qualifications to perform their task efficiently (AlTobi et al., 2019).

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. Teaching competency is made up of emotional competency, performing competencies, and productive competencies.

Educational competencies consist of three main categories: competency related to teaching in the classroom, competency related to undertaking or taking part in professional activities in school, and competency in moral contributing to society (Bhargava and Paty, 2010). Askar et al. (2008) outlined the educational competencies required of school instructors, which were divided into five categories, as shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1

Table 1. The five categories of educational competencies.

The third study’s variable, job satisfaction, is an emotional situation related to how well or poorly one feels about one’s professional experiences (Dunn and Harris, 1998). For example, teachers’ dissatisfaction with the working environment and salary scale results in absenteeism and resignations. The five components of job satisfaction are pay, promotion, supervision, co-workers, and work itself. Job satisfaction is broken down into these five components. The extent of a person’s good thoughts towards their wage is referred to as their level of pay satisfaction. Their pay influences individuals’ job satisfaction, which improves employee performance (Skaalvik and Skaalvik, 2011). Poor employee satisfaction with an inefficient administrative process would result in reduced concentration at work, which may lead to poor performance of the employee (Cheema et al., 2015). Positive feedback, good two-way communication, and a preference for quality over quantity are all signs of satisfaction. Employee inspiration, motivation, and instructional effectiveness are all improved by effective supervision (Bakker and Bal, 2010). Co-workers greatly influence employee mood and behaviour. The level of job satisfaction is increased through improved communication between co-workers and bosses (Pearce, 1993). The importance of work in boosting job satisfaction cannot be overstated. Work satisfaction rises by supporting employees and encouraging learner growth (Luthans and Church, 2002).

Job satisfaction, which refers to a teacher’s feelings and positive attitudes towards their work as teachers, is one of the most important components of a teacher’s or teacher’s success at work, as well as one of the key criteria of the school’s achievement. Employees in any organisation perform better when they are satisfied with their work, especially when the source of this emotion is work rather than monetary rewards from the job (AlTobi et al., 2019). More skills than any other teaching position are needed to be a physical education teacher. His duties are varied, and the community looks up to him as a leader who can foster and preserve the general health of the next generation in the era of machines. There is some debate as to whether teaching physical education has become a more difficult job. One of the most important, contentious, and challenging subjects in psychology and behavioural management is job satisfaction (Binu et al., 2020). This research eventually demonstrated that the productivity of the teachers increases for a shorter time due to unique changes in the working environment (Skaalvik and Skaalvik, 2011).

Several factors contribute to job satisfaction, which is traditionally seen as a continuum. Satisfaction among the teachers with their job depends on these elements (Figure 2). The absence of hygiene issues, like the absence of a cleaning service from time-to-time, did not affect job discontent or motivation, nor did it increase the presence of motivators. It was found that 14 factors either increased or decreased job satisfaction. Some of the notable factors are achievement, recognition, interpersonal relationships, accountability, advancement, pay, job stability, one’s personal life and status, one’s workplace environment, policy and administration, supervision, and the work itself are among the elements noted (Oh and Song, 2021).

FIGURE 2

Figure 2. Elements that play a role in job satisfaction.

Methodology

Initially, the search was conducted through several electronic libraries. However, for this study, Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, Bing Academic, and Cochrane libraries, were used to search for relevant literature. “Competency”, “job satisfaction”, and “physical education teachers” keywords were mainly used for searching. Specifically, the keyword formula used was (competency or performance or ability), (happiness or satisfaction or job satisfaction), (college level or college or university or educational institutes), and (sports teachers or physical education teachers). The inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied strictly. The included studies were also conducted between 2010 and 2022, which evaluated the impact of several factors on job satisfaction. Those studies that did not present a clear conclusion or did not discuss the effects comprehensively on job satisfaction were excluded. Good study selection requires a rigorous process; abstract screening is the first stage in that process. Figure 3 shows the PRISMA flowchart with details of the inclusion and exclusion of studies in this review.

FIGURE 3

Figure 3. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) diagram of the study.

Results

According to the study’s findings, teacher-related sources of job satisfaction, like the gender of the teachers (Taherkhani, 2015), and perceived competence (Ntoumanis, 2001), seem to have a greater influence on teaching effectiveness (Table 2). There is a positive correlation between the degree held and the satisfaction levels. The higher the degree held at hand, the greater the level of work satisfaction. Teaching students the outdoor education (OE) curriculum enhances their skills while allowing teachers to participate in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) activities to enhance their sense of efficacy. Students’ motivation for physical education was greatly influenced by the teachers’ support, motivation, and efficiency. The self-determination theory enhances physical education positively from the teacher’s perspective on PE, increasing the effectiveness of instruction. The effectiveness of the instructor in delivering physical education was influenced by the factors like time, pressure, the choice given to the teachers, and the likely behaviour towards the teacher by the students.

TABLE 2

Table 2. Summary of findings and conclusion of included studies in this review.

Discussion

Substantially, job satisfaction and encouragement, professional experience skills, centre competencies, educational resources, and instructional strategies are the factors that genuinely determine educational performance and achievement. This is important for the continued growth of academic systems around the world. Since teachers are also unsatisfied with educational practices and administration, pay and benefits packages, material rewards and advancement, and advancement opportunities, the survey results showed that teacher-related sources of job satisfaction appear to have a significantly larger impact on teaching performance (Zhang et al., 2011).

A study was conducted whose findings indicated a significant positive relationship between physical education instructors’ inventiveness and their contentment with their jobs. While there was no significant difference in teachers’ levels of creativity, there was a significant variation in their levels of job satisfaction. Instructors with higher degrees are more satisfied with their jobs and are more creative (Taherkhani, 2015).

By employing motivating techniques, physical education instructors can affect their pupils’ ability to make decisions for themselves. The relationships between the perception of job pressure, perceptions of student autonomy, teachers’ autonomous awareness, psychological requirement satisfaction, and self-determination to teach, and teachers disclosed the use of three motivational techniques (providing a purposeful rationale, supplying instrumental assistance and support, and obtaining an understanding of the students). According to a model backed by structural equation modelling, teacher autonomy orientation, perceptions of student autonomy, and felt job pressure all anticipated teacher psychological demand satisfaction, which in turn had a favourable impact on teacher self-determination (Derlin and Schneider, 1994; Chaplain, 1995). The final correctly forecasts the application of all three tactics. Teachers’ psychological needs positively impacted their methods for comprehending pupils and providing them with support and assistance. Elements that affect teacher motivation may also indirectly impact how they motivate pupils (Taylor et al., 2008).

The good effects of perceived competence, independence, and mastery climate and the unfavourable impact of performance environment on students’ motivation in physical training are demonstrated by research. Less study has been done on how connections in this environment-specifically, perceived support from teachers and relatedness-affect student motivation. According to the findings of structural equation modelling, mastery climate was directly correlated with self-determined motivation, and perceived competence, independence, and relatedness partially mediated the relationship between self-determined motivation and perceived teacher support (Cox and Williams, 2008). Another study demonstrated that views of autonomy and competence mediated the relationship between autonomous motivation and the need for the PE teacher’s support. The impression of autonomy also mediated the relationship between the actual education system and autonomous motivation. These results imply that in addition to the physical education instructor, the physical school climate can also encourage autonomous motivation by meeting the desire for autonomy (Rutten et al., 2012).

Physical Education (PE) has many implementation difficulties in South Africa even though its health advantages are widely acknowledged, one of which is the dearth of certified PE teachers. Suppose the fundamental psychological demands of autonomy, competence, and relatedness are met. In that case, in-service training can improve PE teachers’ motivation and views of the subject, according to the Self-determination Theory (SDT). The impact of an in-service support and training program based on the SDT principles on teachers’ attitudes towards physical education and the effectiveness of their instruction. The results showed that the respondents feel that their understanding and knowledge of physical education have improved even in the face of difficulties like large classes, little time, and a lack of equipment. They also felt they were more effective in applying various organisational, assessment, and teaching strategies in the PE class. Positive influences were cited from the suggested activity topics and the encouragement from teachers and fellow students. It was determined that PE in-service training and support programs that meet the participants’ basic psychological needs within the SDT framework could positively affect teachers’ perceptions of PE and their efficacy as teachers, which will help to improve PE in South Africa (Van Der Westhuizen et al., 2020).

Physical education (PE) is widely considered to have the ability to significantly improve public health by fostering a good attitude towards physical activity and by encouraging fitness programs that are related to health. If children are not encouraged to participate fully in their PE courses, these initiatives will be restricted in their effectiveness. Perceived competence was the main psychological mediator, according to an SEM study. Positive outcomes were associated with intrinsic motivation, whereas bad outcomes were associated with external regulation and motivation. The results highlight the significance of personal motivation and perceived competence in required physical activity (Ntoumanis, 2001).

Pan stated in his study on senior high school physical education which was aimed at confirming the links between teachers’ self-efficacy, students’ learning motivation, learning environment, and learning satisfaction, found that learning motivation, learning environment, and learning satisfaction were all influenced by the self-efficacy of physical education teachers. Teachers’ self-efficacy also influences learning satisfaction indirectly and favourably through learning motivation and environment (Pan, 2014). A study has been conducted to test a structural model of predicted relationships between perceived required assistance from instructors (independence support, competence assistance, and relatedness assistance), psychological requirement satisfaction (independence, relatedness, and competence), internal motivation, and physical activity using the self-determination theory as a framework. The link between the need for assistance and physical activity was mediated by need satisfaction and personal drive. The notions of autonomous motivation, competence, and relatedness are the elements that support students’ intrinsic motivation and eventually positively predict their physical activity. The results confirmed the self-determination theory’s theoretical precepts (Zhang et al., 2011).

Another study was conducted in which a questionnaire was created to measure the self-efficacy of physical education teachers to teach classes where their pupils participated in high levels of physical exercise. When teachers did not have sufficient time to teach, the time factor was a good indicator of their effectiveness. When teaching was challenging due to a shortage of space, the space component reflected teachers’ judgements of their efficacy. The institution factor, which indicated teachers’ confidence in their ability to overcome a lack of institutional support, was also made up of questions. The effectiveness of teachers in handling pupils who did not value or enjoy physical activity was reflected in the student factors (Martin and Kulinna, 2003).

In a study titled examining factors that influence instructors’ intentions to lead physically active physical education lessons, spending at least 50% of the class time having students engage in moderate to strenuous physical activity was the goal. A model was investigated with the hypothesis that teachers’ intentions were influenced by subjective norms, attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and self-efficacy (Mahmud et al., 2012). This study was based on reasoned action, planned behaviour, and self-efficacy. The theories of planned behaviour and planned conduct were supported by hierarchical regression analyses, which accounted for 66% of the variance in intention caused by attitude and subjective norm as well as their interaction effects. In the study, Self-efficacy theory and the influence of perceived behavioural control were not supported (Martin et al., 2001). Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) programs must target OE outcomes because self-efficacy has been identified as impacting teacher effectiveness and the rising popularity of outdoor education (OE) content taught in physical education contexts. This study found a significant improvement in self-efficacy scores across all content areas from the pre-test to the post-test (OE skills, dynamic group skills, and models and theories) and also found that in general, OE programs significantly changed the self-efficacy scores. PETE students’ self-efficacy for teaching OE increased due to their participation in the program, which might enhance their capacity to do so in physical education settings in the future (Hovey et al., 2019).

Conclusion

The study concludes that teaching competencies be made available to instructors, included in programs for preparing and qualifying teachers, and trained to address the moral, financial, and social needs of physical education teachers. The study has effectively achieved its objectives to determine a teacher’s competency at the university level related to professional commitment and job satisfaction. The outcome also recommends undertaking additional research to examine instructors’ teaching abilities and job satisfaction at various educational levels and in various fields. However, further subcomponents were not detected. The gender of the research group appeared to be a subcomponent in motivating interaction. Female students were shown to contribute more and be more willing to participate in physical education sessions than the opposite gender. The level of competence and job satisfaction also increases with a higher degree. The teachers’ self-efficacy increases by conducting physical education teacher education programs which increase the teacher’s interest in teaching outdoor education to the students. The role of the teacher in motivating and supporting the students will increase the students’ interest in participating in physical education (Alvarenga et al., 2017). This study has some limitations, such as the availability of studies in limited countries, so this study could not consider studies from numerous countries for effective discussion. However, this study highlighted important points that will effectively improve teaching programs for physical education teachers at the university level.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in this study are included in this article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.

Author contributions

BHL was responsible for helping revise the manuscript, providing edits for the revision, and proofreading. TY was responsible for manuscript writing. EWT and BL were responsible for manuscript validation. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

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