Examination of the relationship between pre-school teachers' perceptions of parental approaches and emotional labor (Afyonkarahisar sample)

In this study, preschool teachers' parental approach perceptions and emotional labor levels were examined in terms of various variables. Correlational survey model, one of the quantitative research designs, was used in the research. 220 preschool teachers working in public and private pre-schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education Afyonkarahisar Provincial Directorate of National Education in the 2020-2021 academic year participated in the research. Emotional Labor Scale and Parental Approach Scale were used for preschool teachers in the study. Frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, Spearman correlation test, Mann Whitney U Test, Kruskal-Wallis H Test analyzes were used in the analysis of the data. It was found that there is a positive, moderate and low-level significant relationship between the parental approach perceptions of preschool teachers and emotional labor in terms of demographic variables and overall scale. While this relationship is positive and significant according to the variables of pre-school teachers' age, seniority of service and type of institution, no significant relationship was found according to the variables of marital status, position and educational status. It was understood that preschool teachers scored highest from the factor of "natural feelings" related to emotional labor, and the lowest in the dimension of "superficial acting". According to the answers given by the preschool teachers regarding their perceptions of parent approach, it was determined that the highest average was in the dimension of "positive and informative approach", and the lowest average was in the dimension of "negative and critical approach".