Merfeldaitė, Odeta

There is a lack of research analyzing how teachers themselves define violence and what patterns of behavior they personally consider to be violent. It is precisely this subjective perception of violence that may explain why some situations remain invisible at the institutional level: they are not named and reported, or they are normalized as part of a teacher’s job, even though, in the long run, they can negatively affect a teacher’s professional identity and well-being. A phenomenographic perspective was applied in this research. It has been found that teachers understand violence in the workplace as pressure to obey, aggressive behavior, insults, public humiliation, and non-transparent decisions, which are characterized by verbal, physical, written, and visual expressions. The scope of the research results shows that the teachers’ perception of violence is not limited to incidents but is revealed as a process of constructing meaning that combines the form of violence, structural features, and orientation toward the teacher as a professional or as a person. The study broadens not only the concept of violence in the school environment but also the field of analysis of the teacher as an object of violence, and it reveals that the teachers’ understanding of violence is more related to administrative power practices.

Teacher victimization is a growing concern with well-documented implications for educators’ psychological well-being. However, less is known about how such experiences relate not only to emotional outcomes but also to critical thinking. This study aimed to examine the associations between different forms of teacher victimization (e.g., physical, social, verbal, and cyber), psychological well-being (flourishing, positive and negative emotions), and critical thinking.

Introduction: Teacher victimization is an important occupational stressor that can undermine educators' psychological functioning and professional sustainability. Guided by stress–coping theory, this study examined the relationships among multiple forms of victimization, coping strategies, and psychological well-being.Methods: A nationwide sample of Lithuanian teachers (N = 1,044) completed validated measures assessing exposure to victimization, coping responses, and psychological well-being, including indicators of flourishing and emotional experiences. Structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and indirect relationships among variables.Results: Victimization was associated with poorer psychological well-being, particularly reduced flourishing and increased negative emotional experiences. Adaptive coping strategies–such as active coping, positive reframing, and religious coping–were related to higher well-being, whereas maladaptive strategies, including self-blame, behavioral disengagement, and substance use, were associated with poorer outcomes. Structural equation modeling indicated a small but significant indirect effect (β ≈ .02), suggesting that coping partially mediated the relationship between victimization and well-being. A substantial direct association between victimization and well-being remained (β ≈ −.25, p < .001).Discussion: These findings suggest that strengthening teachers' coping skills may help mitigate the emotional consequences of victimization; however, individual coping alone is insufficient. Supporting teacher well-being requires not only individual-level interventions but also organizational and policy-level efforts aimed at preventing workplace victimization in educational settings.

Abstract Aim. The aim of this study is to reveal the victimisation of Lithuanian teachers in educational institutions. In order to achieve the aim of the study, the following hypotheses were put forward: traumatic experiences as a student are related to experiences of bullying and violence as a teacher; different forms of violence are interrelated; and teachers who have experienced one form of violence are more likely to experience others. Methods. A quantitative study was conducted, and a questionnaire was developed for data collection using validated scales: Multidimensional Teacher Victimisation Scale (MT-VS-2); Teacher Bullying Experience Scale; Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory – PTCI-9; Brief COPE. A probabilistic multistage sampling method was used, involving systematic and cluster sampling, with 1,044 teachers participating. Results. Teachers most often experience psychological and verbal abuse (e.g., the incitement of students to disobey, swearing, gossip, etc.), and less often experience physical abuse, damage to property, sexual harassment, and cyber-attacks. Significant correlations were found between early trauma and current bullying by students, parents, colleagues, and administrative staff. Strong links were also found between physical violence and sexual and cyber harassment, as well as between property damage and psychological violence. Conclusions. Teacher victimisation is a complex phenomenon determined by traumatic experiences, interpersonal relationships, and the overall school climate. Teachers most often experience psychological and verbal violence. The different forms of violence experienced by teachers are interrelated. Originality. The study found that trauma experienced by teachers in childhood is positively associated with current experiences of violence and greater visibility of violence.

Introduction: Although teacher victimization has been associated with reduced well-being, little is known about how teachers’ perceptions of their relationships within the school environment is linked to this association. This study examined whether perceived relationship quality moderates the link between different forms of victimization and teachers’ life satisfaction. Methods: A structural equation model was tested using data from a Lithuanian teacher sample (n = 1,146), incorporating three latent constructs: victimization (indicated by physical, social, verbal, cyber, and sexual victimization, as well as victimization involving property damage and violence perpetrated by school staff and parents), relationship perception (measured by perceived relationships with students, colleagues, school administration, and local educational authorities), and life satisfaction (assessed via the satisfaction with life scale). Results: The model demonstrated good fit [χ2(39) = 310.00, CFI = 0.941, TLI = 0.916, SRMR = 0.047, RMSEA = 0.078 (0.070, 0.086)]. Victimization was negatively related to both relationship perception (β = −0.35) and life satisfaction (β = −0.25), while relationship perception positively related to life satisfaction (β = 0.44, all p < 0.001). Moderation analyses revealed significant interaction effects: cyber, property, and physical victimization were more strongly associated with reduced life satisfaction among teachers who reported high perceived relationship quality with students or educational authorities. Contrary to buffering expectations, perceived relationships appeared to intensify the negative effects of victimization on life satisfaction. Discussion: These findings suggest that victimization may be especially damaging for teachers who typically view their school relationships as supportive, pointing to a potential breach in relational expectations. This highlights the importance of contextual factors in teacher well-being.

Švietimui tenka itin reikšmingas vaidmuo kuriant solidarią visuomenę, kuri nuolat mokosi ir sugeba prisitaikyti prie kintančių aplinkybių, sprendžia sudėtingas problemas. Nors edukologijos moksle švietimo sąvoką mokslininkai apibrėžia kaip žmogaus ir visuomenės tobulėjimo galių plėtrą mokslo žinių ir ugdomosios patirties pagrindu (Bitinas, 2011), ši sąvoka savo turiniu aprėpia tam tikrus aspektus, susijusius su auklėjimu, mokymu, mokymusi, lavinimu ir t. t. Detalizuojant kertinės sąvokos komponentus galima atkreipti dėmesį į konkrečias ugdymo socialines prielaidas: ugdymo lygybę, socialinį teisingumą, švietimo prieinamumą, ugdymo kokybę ir pan. (Biesta, 2010; Bitinas, 2013), be kurių švietime sunku tikėtis sėkmės. Neretai šie klausimai susiejami su švietimo pagalbos esme ir prasme (Armstrong & Ainscow, 2018; Niemi & Laaksonen, 2020). Šiuolaikinio pasaulio transformacijos ir jas lydinčios socialinės problemos tiesiogiai veikia švietimą kaip sistemą, taip pat asmenis, kurie mokosi, pedagogus, kitus švietimo sistemos dalyvius.

The purpose of this study was to explore the links between the perceived importance of critical thinking skills, self-reported critical thinking skills, and work engagement. The study applied a cross-sectional design, and the sample consisted of 2012 employees; the mean age was 41.93 (SD=11.42). To analyse the links between the constructs, three instruments were used: The Work Engagement Scale (UWES), The Perceived Importance of the Critical Thinking Skills Scale (PICTS), and The self-reported Critical Thinking Skills Scale (CTS). For the statistical analyses, SPSS v.26.0, AMOS v.26.0, JASP v.18, and JAMOVI v.2.2.1 software was applied. Confirmatory factor analyses showed the acceptable model fit and validity of the scales in the Lithuanian population. The structural equation modelling results revealed the complex model of the links between the perceived importance of critical thinking skills, the self-reported critical thinking skills, and the elements of work engagement, namely, vigour, dedication, and absorption. The findings revealed that both self-reported critical thinking and the perceived importance of critical thinking skills positively contributed to work engagement, thus indicating the need to foster critical thinking in organizations so that to ensure their flourishing and efficacy.

Supervizija, kaip refleksijos ir konsultacinė parama, tampa vis reikšmingesnė socialiniams darbuotojams, siekiant skatinti jų profesinį augimą. Tyrimu siekta atskleisti supervizijos reikšmę socialinių darbuotojų profesinei ūgčiai, atsakyti, kaip suprantamas socialinio darbuotojo profesionalumas, su kokiais sunkumais susiduriama profesinėje veikloje, kaip vertinamas dalyvavimas supervizijose ir kaip ji reiškiasi socialinių darbuotojų profesionalumo kontekste. Tyrimas parodė, kad socialinio darbuotojo profesionalo paveikslas susideda iš teorinio pasirengimo, praktinės patirties, asmeninių savybių ir vertybių derinio. Sunkumai, su kuriais susiduria socialiniai darbuotojai, yra nemotyvuoti klientai, socialinių paslaugų prieinamumo, bendradarbiavimo stoka, didelis darbo ir emocinis krūvis, profesinio tapatumo dilemos ir žinių, kaip dirbti kintant problemoms, trūkumas. Sunkumai sprendžiami tobulinant kompetencijas, remiantis kolegų pagalba ir reflektuojant situacijas. Supervizijos reikšmė socialinio darbuotojo profesinei ūgčiai atsiskleidžia profesiniame ir organizacijos lygmenyse. Profesiniame lygmenyje supervizija reikšminga kaip priemonė, skatinanti profesinį tobulėjimą, apsauganti nuo profesinio perdegimo ir motyvuojanti dirbti toliau. Organizacijos lygmenyje supervizija reikšminga sprendžiant sudėtingas klientų situacijas, užtikrinant efektyvesnį darbą ir kokybiškesnių paslaugų teikimą.

The chapter analyses the role of social pedagogues in Lithuania in the context of contemporary teacher competence frameworks and growing socio-educational challenges in schools. The aim is to examine how practice-based social pedagogy studies and the competences of social pedagogues (professional, cognitive, collaborative and emotional-motivational) are operationalised in everyday school practice when responding to complex cases of chronic absenteeism. The following problem questions are addressed: (1) how are the holistic educational competences of social pedagogues implemented in practice when providing socio-educational support to pupils at risk of exclusion? (2) what forms of intra-institutional and inter-institutional cooperation are activated in complex pupil cases? (3) what factors facilitate or hinder effective support and pupils’ re-engagement in education? The empirical part presents two case studies from a gymnasium in a large Lithuanian city (school year 2023/2024), focusing on ninth-grade students with long-term absenteeism and diverse psycho-social difficulties. The analysis shows that social pedagogues play a central coordinating role in assessing pupils’ needs, drawing up individual support plans, mobilising teachers, specialists, parents and municipal services, and ensuring a continuum of support from school-level child welfare commissions to city-level structures. The results reveal both the potential and limitations of the current support system: in one case, despite extensive multi-agency intervention, the pupil remains disengaged from schooling, while in the other, strengthened cooperation and clear structure lead to a marked improvement in attendance. The findings highlight the need for early intervention, sustained inter-institutional collaboration and flexible support formats, including alternative educational pathways.