Emotional intelligence and self-esteem as predictors of teacher self-efficacy

Teacher self-efficacy is related to teachers or pre-service teachers feeling competent in their profession. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions and their emotional intelligence and self-esteem. The study group of the current research comprised a total of 212 pre-service teachers of whom 141 are females (66.5%) and 71 are males (33.5%) and whose ages range from 20 to 35. The study conducted with fourth year’s students in Mehmet Akif Ersoy University and from Early Childhood Education, Elementary Teacher Education, Social Studies Teacher Education, and Mathematics Teaching Program. The data of the current study were collected by using Teacher Self-efficacy Belief Scale, The Emotional Intelligence Scale-Short Form and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. In the analysis of the collected data, Pearson Product-moment Correlation Coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis were used. When the research results were examined, it was found that while some sub-dimensions of emotional intelligence (well-being, sociality and self-esteem) positively and significantly predict the pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy level, some other dimensions (self-control and emotionality) do not significantly predict the self-efficacy level. Key words: Teacher self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, self-esteem.