Antecedents to Job Satisfaction Among the ESL teachers in the Iraq

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective of the present study is to examine the influence of job stress on job satisfaction among instructors in the TSL (Teaching as a Second Language) sector in Iraq. In addition, the present study has conducted an examination of the mediating influence of self-efficacy and self-esteem on the association between job stress and job satisfaction within the context of TSL (Teaching as a Second Language) teachers in Iraq. Methodology: The selected research methodology employs a survey-based strategy, wherein questionnaires were distributed to a total of 600 English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers in Iraq. The researchers have successfully received 430 completed questionnaires, out of which 390 were deemed suitable for inclusion in the subsequent analysis. The instruments included in this investigation have been derived from previous studies, which have undergone validation and reliability testing. The assessment of the instrument's validity and reliability is conducted through the utilization of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. Results: The findings obtained from the Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) study indicate a statistically significant positive association between job stress and job satisfaction among English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers in Iraq. The findings of the study indicate that the presence of self-efficacy and self-esteem have notable effects as mediators in the correlation between job stress and job satisfaction. Implications: The potential consequences of these findings have great importance for educators, policymakers, and stakeholders in Iraq. By gaining an awareness of the various elements that impact the job satisfaction of English as a Second Language (ESL) instructors, policymakers and program developers can create initiatives aimed at supporting teachers in effectively managing job-related stress and fostering higher levels of self-efficacy and self-esteem. Novelty: This study is a pioneering effort in examining the interplay between job stress, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and job happiness within the context of ESL teachers in Iraq.