The relationship between work engagement, empathy and liking of children in teachers working with autistic children

This study aims to examine the relationship between work engagement, empathy and liking of children in teachers working with autistic children. Teachers working with autistic children who work at private or public education centers where autistic children are educated, are recruited to the study. The questionnaire adapted to the teachers consists of sociodemographic information form, Empahatic Tendency Scale, Barnett Liking of Children Scale and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. The study was conducted on 198 teachers in total which consists 146 females and 52 males; 156 work in private and 42 in public foundations. There were statistically significant relationships between the work engagement and the job intentionally chosen, educational background, the field of study, satisfaction of job, satisfaction of salary; the liking of children and gender, the job intentionally chosen, educational background, the field of study, satisfaction of job; the empathetic tendency and gender, job intentionally chosen, educational background, satisfaction of job, satisfaction of salary. In addition, there was a statistically significant and positive relationship between the work engagement, liking of children and empathetic tendency.