Enhancing Language Teachers' Well-Being Through Positive Psychology Interventions: A Mixed-Methods Study Focusing on Gratitude Journaling

Abstract

Despite increasing attention to teacher well-being over the past years, few studies have explored the outcomes resulting from implementing low-cost, teacher-directed interventions grounded in a positive psychology perspective. In addressing this gap, this study investigated the effects of an 8-week gratitude journaling intervention on the well-being of language teachers in Iran, using a convergent mixed-methods approach. A total of 40 EFL teachers were selected using purposive and convenience sampling techniques and participated in a randomized controlled trial. Data were collected through validated scales measuring gratitude and subjective well-being. Quantitative results analyzed using mixed ANOVA demonstrated significant improvements in all well-being dimensions post-intervention, with the largest effect observed in social well-being (partial η2 = 0.252, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that gratitude journaling effectively enhances both individual and social facets of well-being among teachers. Furthermore, multivariate tests indicated significant interactions between time (pre- and post-intervention) and group (experimental vs. control), particularly highlighting the role of the intervention in these improvements. The qualitative strand, analyzed through thematic analysis, revealed three primary themes: (1) enhanced emotional resilience, (2) strengthened social well-being, and (3) promoted personal and professional growth, which provided deeper insights into the teachers' experiences and the subjective benefits of the intervention. The study reveals the potential of gratitude interventions in improving well-being and fostering a positive educational environment. The findings have implications for enhancing teacher well-being and also to the practical application of positive psychology in educational settings.