| Title: | An Investigation on the Impact of Caring Leadership on Employee Well-being in Weifang Kindergarten School, China |
| Author: | Qin Honglei |
| Advisor: | รศ. ดร.จอมพงศ์ มงคลวนิช – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jomphong Mongkhonvanit |
| Degree: | ปรัชญาดุษฎีบัณฑิต สาขาวิชานวัตกรรมการบริหารการศึกษา – Doctor of Philosophy Program in Educational Administration Innovation |
| Major: | ปร.ด. นวัตกรรมการบริหารการศึกษา – Ph.D. in Educational Administration Innovation |
| Faculty: | บัณฑิตวิทยาลัย (Graduate School) |
| Academic year: | 2569 (2026) |
| Published: | ตีพิมพ์ในวารสาร (Journal Name) วารสารศิลปศาสตร์ราชมงคลสุวรรณภูมิ ปีที่ 9 ฉบับที่ 1 (มกราคม – เมษายน 2570) | Journal of Liberal Art of Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi Vol. 9 No. 1 (January – April 2027) TCI Tier 1 Publication Year: 2570 (2027) View นำเสนอในที่ประชุมวิชาการ (Conference) The 18th National and International Academic Conference “Sustainable Horizon: Transforming Ideas into Impact” 6-7 August 2025 (pp.1357-1369) Conference Publication Year: 2568 (2025) View |
Abstract
This study investigated the mechanisms through which caring leadership influenced employee well-being in kindergartens in Weifang City, Shandong Province, China. The study examined the direct effect of caring leadership on employee well-being and the indirect effects of organizational commitment, trustworthiness, team psychological capital, and employee performance. The study also aimed to provide practical guidance for improving kindergarten management and employee well-being. A mixed-methods research design was adopted. In the quantitative research, Structural Equation Modelling was used to test the hypothesized relationships among the variables. A total of 700 questionnaires were distributed to principals, teachers, and support staff from 25 public and private kindergartens, and 678 valid responses were collected. In the qualitative research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight key informants, and the data were analysed using NVivo to triangulate the quantitative findings.
The study focused on kindergartens across urban and suburban districts in Weifang, with principals representing leadership behaviour and teachers and support staff serving as the main evaluators of organizational outcomes. The results indicated that caring leadership had a significant positive direct effect on employee well-being and strong indirect effects through organizational commitment, trustworthiness, team psychological capital, and employee performance. These mediating variables enhanced teachers’ sense of belonging, psychological security, collective efficacy, and professional achievement. The findings enrich the theoretical understanding of leadership and well-being in early childhood education and provided practical implications for kindergarten management.
Keywords: caring leadership, organizational commitment, trustworthiness, team psychological capital, employee performance, teachers’ well-being