• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.171-188
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• 2013

We investigated whether divergent thinking attitudes mediate the relationship between self-esteem and creative teaching beliefs among teachers. We examined differences in the mediating model we proposed in the groups of pre-service and in-service child care teachers. We found differences in the pre-service and in-service child care teachers in the proposed mediating model. Especially in the pre-service child care teachers, the mediating effect of divergent thinking attitudes was confirmed. There was a significant effect from self esteem to creative teaching beliefs and also a significant effect from divergent thinking attitudes to creative teaching beliefs. But in-service child care teachers, there was neither direct nor indirect effect of self-esteem to creative teaching beliefs. Suggestions for more studies and for better in-service education for the pre-service and in-service child care teachers are recommended for the future.