교실환경의 질이 영아의 기관적응에 미치는 영향 : 교사의 신체·정서적 소진의 조절효과
Classroom Environment Quality and Infant Adaptation to Childcare : The Moderating Role of Teacher Physical-Emotional Exhaustion
This study examined whether classroom environmental quality predicts infants' institutional adaptation (measured by the Childcare Adaptation Scale for Infants and Toddlers; CASIT) beyond home environmental quality, and whether teachers' physical and emotional exhaustion moderates this relationship. Using Wave 2 data from 278 infants in the Korean ECEC Panel Study, a moderation analysis was conducted with the PROCESS macro (Hayes, 2022, Model 1), controlling for child age, gender, and home environmental quality (IT-HOME). Classroom environmental quality showed a significant positive effect on infants' adaptation even after controlling for home quality, while teachers' physical and emotional exhaustion showed a significant negative effect. Their interaction was also significant, such that classroom quality's positive effect strengthened as exhaustion increased. These results, consistent with Conservation of Resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989) and Crossover theory (Westman & Etzion, 1995), suggest teacher support and environmental improvement function as complementary strategies in childcare settings.