Şenel POYRAZLI, Binnur YEŞİLYAPRAK, Ali MİLLİOĞULLARI
*Assoc. Prof. Dr. The Pennsylvania State University – Harrisburg.
Prof. Faculty of Education, Ankara-Turkey. ∗Prof. Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract

Problem Statement: A review of the literature indicated that both job satisfaction and life satisfaction are important to an individual’s overall wellbeing. While there have been extensive studies related to job satisfaction in a Turkish context, studies related to the predictors of life satisfaction are limited.

Purpose of Study: The purpose of this research study was to explore and compare the level of life satisfaction among guidance counselors and administrators working for the Ministry of Education in Turkey.

Method: A total of 920 participants (679 guidance counselors, 241 administrators) took part in this study. Ten cities from among the most populated and average-size populated cities and surrounding towns in Turkey were selected for data collection. A Socio-Demographic Data Form, prepared by the researchers, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used to collect data. An independent-samples t-test and two separate simultaneous multiple regression analyses were utilized to analyze the data.

Findings: There was a statistically significant difference in the scores for guidance counselors and administrators. Counselors reported higher levels of life satisfaction. Results of the regression analyses indicated that the following variables contributed significantly to the level of life satisfaction among guidance counselors: gender, marital status, level of education, fit between educational background and tasks assigned, intrinsic job satisfaction, and extrinsic job satisfaction. Guidance counselors who were women, who were married, who reported higher levels of education, higher levels of intrinsic job satisfaction, and higher levels of extrinsic job satisfaction, and who reported a better fit between their educational background and the tasks they were assigned to also reported higher levels of life satisfaction. For the administrator group, the following variables contributed significantly to the level of life satisfaction: gender, marital status, and extrinsic job satisfaction. Administrators who were women, who were married, and who reported higher levels of extrinsic job satisfaction also reported higher levels of life satisfaction.

Conclusion and Recommendations: Based on the results, interventions that increase the administrators’ and counselors’ job satisfaction levels which in turn will contribute to an increase in their life satisfaction are warranted. An increase in these groups’ job and life satisfaction will likely impact the delivery of educational services to students. Further research needs to be carried out in a Turkish context to further contribute to the exploration of the predictors of life satisfaction.

Key Words: Life satisfaction, job satisfaction, administrators, guidance counselors.