Health and Weight Beliefs and Behaviours of Pre-Service Teachers: Considerations and Implications for a Health Promotion Perspective

Date
2015-08-05
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Abstract
This project explored pre-service teachers (i.e., bachelor of education [B.Ed.] students) beliefs and behaviours about health and weight during their university education at an Alberta university. Although many studies claim that there is a need for training teachers in the areas of health and weight, recommendations for the specific areas requiring professional development or intervention for teachers are lacking. The present study was conducted with 226 pre-service teachers. Participants’ self-reported height, weight, body satisfaction, health promoting behaviours, implicit weight bias, current weight loss and muscle gain attempts were assessed. Results demonstrated many pre-service teachers have concerns about their weight and their bodies and exhibit weight bias, which may be transferred to their future students. Professional development interventions targeting body satisfaction, weight bias, exercise behaviour, and stress management may be beneficial for pre-service teachers. Such interventions may help to better prepare teachers to teach and model health to their future students.
Description
Keywords
Educational Psychology, Education--Health, Education--Teacher Training
Citation
Tkachuk, M. (2015). Health and Weight Beliefs and Behaviours of Pre-Service Teachers: Considerations and Implications for a Health Promotion Perspective (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26342