To save the saver: facilitating school counselors' occupational well-being through multi-dimensional support and...

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Occupational Health
• Counseling Studies

Background:

• School counselors are vital for student mental health.
• Counselor occupational well-being is often compromised, impacting their effectiveness.
• Understanding well-being facilitators is crucial for supporting counselors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key facilitators of school counselors' occupational well-being.
• To examine the dynamics between well-being, situational, inter-individual, and intra-individual supports.
• To explore these factors across different counselor cohorts.

Main Methods:

• A regionally representative dataset of 1,443 Chinese school counselors was analyzed.
• Work engagement, pressure, and satisfaction were used as well-being indicators.
• Dominance analysis was employed to determine the significance of various supports.

Main Results:

• Organizational support and occupational empowerment consistently facilitated psychological needs and well-being.
• Students emerged as critical supporters, especially for part-time counselors.
• Autonomy and competence were more central than relatedness in translating support into well-being.

Conclusions:

• Effective strategies to enhance counselor well-being should prioritize organizational support and empowerment.
• Leveraging student interactions is vital, particularly for part-time counselors.
• Fostering autonomy and competence are key to improving counselor occupational well-being.