Autoeficacia docente, sentido del humor y felicidad subjetiva en docentes universitarios españoles y dominicanos

Abstract

Teacher self-efficacy is related to job satisfaction as well as attitudes toward teaching. Also in the complex stage of teaching, it is important to focus attention on variables like the humor sense and happiness or subjective well-being. The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between teacher efficacy, humor sense and subjective happiness in university teachers. Also, identify if there are differences by country, gender and years of experience of the teachers. The sample consists of 69 university teachers, 58% male and 42% female, with a minimum age of 26 and maximum of 66 years, mean age of 39.55 years, SD = 10.82. 56.5% of teachers working in Spain and 43.5% in Dominican Republic. The average teaching experience was 11.99 years; teachers were divided between those who were under 10 years of teaching experience (47.8% of the sample) and 10 or more years (52.2%). Three instruments were used for data collection: the Teacher’s Sense of Efficacy Scale-Short Form, the Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale and the Subjective Happiness Scale. The Spearman correlation analysis showed correlations between the three constructs evaluated. The results of the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test showed differences in Teacher self-efficacy and Humor sense by country; in the three instruments by gender; and in Teacher self-efficacy and Subjective Happiness by teaching experience. Different educational implications are discussed.