Examining the relationship between job satisfaction and silent resignation of child development teachers

In today's educational context, teachers' levels of motivation and commitment are among the key factors that directly influence the quality of education. In recent years, the concept of "quiet quitting" has emerged as a new way of expressing teachers' lack of professional satisfaction. In this regard, the present study aims to examine the relationship between job satisfaction and quiet quitting levels of child development teachers. The research was conducted within the framework of the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. The study group consisted of 254 child development teachers working in public and private schools in Istanbul. Data were collected through the Personal Information Form, the Teacher Job Satisfaction Scale, and the Quiet Quitting Scale for Teachers, and analyzed using the SPSS program. In the analysis of the data, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression analyses were employed. The findings revealed a moderate, negative, and significant relationship between the job satisfaction and quiet quitting levels of child development teachers. When examined in terms of demographic variables, no significant differences were found regarding age, marital status, and years of experience, whereas significant differences were observed in school type, branch, working conditions, and career choice variables. Additionally, the salary variable was found to be a significant factor affecting job satisfaction levels, but it did not lead to a significant difference in quiet quitting levels. Results of the regression analysis indicated that job satisfaction is a significant predictor of quiet quitting. In this respect, the study contributes both theoretically and practically to the fields of child development, educational psychology, and educational sciences by revealing the impact of teachers' professional satisfaction levels on their tendency toward quiet quitting.