Self-Care is Not Enough: Effects of Self-Care Self-Monitoring Intervention on Teacher Candidates’ Resilience and Self-Efficacy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Educator preparation programs must prepare teachers to endure the demands of the profession. Teacher candidates can develop skills to mitigate stress and develop resilience and self-efficacy necessary for the current reality of the teaching profession. We implemented a randomized control trial to evaluate the effects of a self-care self-monitoring intervention on teacher candidates’ resilience and self-efficacy. Participants assigned to the treatment group created self-care goals and monitored their weekly progress toward their goals. We found no significant effects of the self-monitoring tool on teacher candidates’ resilience and self-efficacy. We contextualize our findings within the current teacher attrition and retention crisis and share implications for educator preparation programs.