Investigating the relationship between preschool teachers' attitudes towards sustainable development and problem solving skills

This study aims to explore the connection between preschool teachers' attitudes towards sustainable development and their problem-solving skills. The research utilized a relational survey method and included a sample of 199 preschool teachers affiliated with the Ministry of National Education. Data was collected using the "Attitude Scale of Preschool Teachers Towards Sustainable Development," a "Personal Information Form," and the "Social Problem Solving Inventory Short Form (SPSI-SF)." Data analysis involved descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, independent groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and simple linear regression analysis. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between preschool teachers' attitudes towards sustainable development and their problem-solving skills. Moreover, preschool teachers exhibited high attitudes towards sustainable development based on the "Preschool Teachers' Attitude Scale towards Sustainable Development." The "Social Problem Solving Inventory Short Form" also indicated that preschool teachers possessed strong problem-solving skills. When examining these attitudes and skills with regard to the type of institution where teachers worked, those in independent kindergartens had significantly higher social problem-solving, positive problem orientation, and rational problem-solving scores compared to those in primary kindergartens. However, there was no significant difference in attitudes towards sustainable development and social problem-solving skills when considering factors such as following the media and attending seminars. A difference was observed in attitudes towards sustainable development concerning education levels, particularly between graduate and undergraduate groups. The study also found a positive relationship between preschool teachers' years of experience and their attitudes towards sustainable development and social problem-solving skills. Simple linear regression analysis identified social problem-solving skills as a significant predictor of attitudes towards sustainable development. Keywords: preschool teacher, sustainable development, attitude towards sustainable development, problem-solving skills.