Development and Validation of Psychological Well-being Inventory for Childcare Professionals

Objective: The objective of this study is to develop and validate a self-report inventory to assess the psychological health of childcare professionals. Additionally, the study also aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the items and factors within the developed psychological health assessment. Methods: A preliminary set of 144 items was created based on previous studies and literature review. The initial test was administered to a nationwide sample of 439 childcare professionals aged 20 to 50. Content validity was assessed through item content analysis, correlation analysis, and reliability checks, resulting in a final selection of 115 items. This finalized test was subsequently administered to 623 childcare professionals, and data were analyzed using correlation analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to verify construct validity (convergent and discriminant validity) and criterion validity. Results: The developed inventory included a balanced range of protective and risk factors across eight factors: work environment, job burnout, personality strengths, personality weaknesses, internalizing problems, organizational issues, psychological well-being, and coping skills. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit, and standardized factor coefficients were statistically significant. Additionally, convergent and discriminant validity confirmed the inventory’s construct validity. Criterion validity was verified through significant correlations with existing assessments, including teacher efficacy, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and positive affect, confirming the overall validity of the inventory. Conclusions: The psychological health inventory developed in this study reflects the specific job characteristics of childcare professionals. It is designed to assess not only psychological challenges but also personality strengths and resources. The inventory exhibits robust psychometric properties and is expected to serve as a valuable tool in childcare settings in Korea, contributing to the well-being of childcare professionals and the welfare of young children.