Exploring the Wellbeing of Pre-Service Teachers During Their Practicum

Abstract

Understanding the psychology of pre-service teachers and the factors that affect their well-being have received relatively little attention in the relevant literature. Therefore, the present study seeks to investigate how pre-service teachers perceive their wellbeing during their practicum by collecting data from pre-service teachers via narratives and semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze the data. The results revealed a number of factors influencing the well-being of pre-service teachers, including motivation, students, their appreciation of the profession, feelings of inadequacy, relationship management, their multiple roles, technical concerns, and future perceptions. The findings highlight how pre-service teachers’ well-being influences their professional practices and provide insights for teacher educators, pupils, and researchers who are concerned with the well-being of pre-service teachers and work in the field of teacher education. Overall, the study sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of pre-service teacher wellbeing during practicum and emphasizes the need for a more holistic approach that considers the various factors that influence pupils' psychological and emotional states.