Peak experiences in educational practice and the formation of professional identity among early childhood teachers
Ivan Lukšík
European Early Childhood Education Research Journal October 21, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/1350293x.2026.2743081 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed-method study (descriptive quantitative analysis and reflexive thematic analysis) Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 159 |
| Population | Early childhood teachers; 93 provided narrative accounts of peak experiences |
| Topics | Mystical experience |
| Key points | Peak experiences were relatively common among early childhood teachers and were associated with motherhood and with the broader occurrence of peak experiences in life. The authors argue that these experiences function as identity-relevant moments concentrated in four domains: affirmation of professional identity, ethical turning points in crisis situations, relational transformation, and introspective self-discovery. |
Abstract
This study explores how early childhood teachers interpret extraordinary educational experiences (peak experiences) and the meanings they attribute to these experiences in the process of shaping their professional identity. The research employed a mixed-method design consisting of a descriptive quantitative analysis of the occurrence of peak experiences (N = 159) and a reflexive thematic analysis of 93 narrative accounts provided by teachers who reported such experiences. Quantitative findings indicate that peak experiences are relatively common and that their occurrence is associated with motherhood and with the broader occurrence of peak experiences in life. The qualitative analysis identified four thematic domains in which these experiences are concentrated: affirmation of professional identity, ethical turning points in crisis situations, relational transformation, and introspective self-discovery. The findings suggest that peak experiences function as identity-relevant moments that connect emotional intensity, reflection, and professional orientation. The study extends discussions on professional identity in early childhood education by highlighting identity-relevant moments that link emotionality, relationality, and professional purpose.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on mystical experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The nature of peak experience in wilderness. Participants who had visited wilderness areas in Victoria, Australia, recruited via a... | 2009 | Qualitative study | n = 39 |
| Qualitative and Quantitative Features of Music Reported to Support Peak Mystical Experiences during Psychedelic Therapy Sessions Individuals with extensive experience administering psilocybin or psilocybin-containing... | 2017 | Survey and qualitative/quantitative analysis | n = 10 |
| Cannabis as entheogen: survey and interview data on the spiritual use of cannabis. Participants recruited from seven online communities, median age 33, 81% male | 2020 | Mixed methods (qualitative interviews and quantitative survey) | n = 319 |
| Clarifying and measuring the characteristics of experiences that involve a loss of self or a dissolution of its boundaries. Adults who reported an experience involving dissolution of self-boundaries or loss of... | 2024 | Cross-sectional survey with confirmatory factor analysis and qualitative thematic analysis | n = 386 |
| The developmental impact of not integrating childhood peak experiences Adults recalling their childhood peak experiences | 2007 | Qualitative study | n = 12 |