Why do teachers with voice disorders keep teaching? Insights from applications of social capital motives

Introduction
This study investigated why teachers with voice disorders continue teaching by surveying their motives described in social capital theory.

Methods
Teachers were asked to rate their motives for continued teaching even with voice disorders using online surveys. The five key motives (social capital framework) were: Motive #1 (selfishness), Motive #2 (internal validation), Motive #3 (external validation), Motive #4 (transcendence or altruism), and Motive #5 (belonging).

Results
As teachers’ income increased, so did the relative importance of the transcendence motive. Income maintenance (selfishness) accounted for 47% of the total motivation, with teachers with a master’s degree and higher incomes being less likely to prioritize this motive. Teachers reporting bad voice quality were more likely to prioritize income (selfishness) and less likely to be motivated by helping others (altruism) or feel connected to other people (belonging).

Conclusion
Voice problems can negatively impact a teacher’s sense of fulfilment and motivation beyond financial constraints. These findings highlight the need for implementing preventive measures for voice disorders in schools that can address voice problems before they significantly affect teachers’ performance and students’ learning. Moreover, competitive teacher salaries and benefits may create a supportive environment where educators feel empowered to focus on their students’ needs.