Teacher's emotional contagion on students: Evidence from multi-method approaches

• Published in: Teaching and teacher education 2025-03, Vol.155, Article 104891
• Main Authors: Lu, Yating, Wei, Dan, Li, Ying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Educational settings; Emotional contagion; Emotional labor strategy; Facial EMG; Multi-method approach
• ISSN: 0742-051X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tate.2024.104891

Investigating emotional contagion in the educational context can promote teacher and student well-being and teaching effectiveness. We investigated the impact of teachers' emotions on students' emotions and learning outcomes, and the role of their emotional labor strategies. In Study 1, we conducted a biofeedback experiment with 48 participants. We found teachers' emotions (positive, negative) predicted students' facial electromyography (EMG), skin conductance (SC), and learning outcomes. In Study 2, we surveyed with 65 teachers and 1854 students. Results suggested that teachers' surface acting and genuine expression mediated the effects of their enjoyment and anger on students' enjoyment and anger. •Students learn best and show increased zygomatic EMG when teachers exhibit positive emotions.•Students' corrugator EMG activity increases in response to teachers' negative academic emotions.•Students' SC increases in both positive and negative teacher emotions compared to neutral emotions.•Teacher enjoyment affects student enjoyment through the mediating role of surface acting.•Teacher anger affects student anger through the expression of naturally felt emotions.