Pre-service elementary teachers' attitudes toward role modeling selected health behaviors

• Main Author: Santabarbara, Todd C.
• Other Authors: Seabert, Denise M.
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Health behavior.; Role models.; Student teachers > Attitudes.; Elementary school teachers > Attitudes.
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/187695; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1294898

The problem of this study was to examine the relationship between pre-service elementary teachers' attitudes toward role modeling and the health behaviors they practice. Using a 26-item questionnaire modified from several instruments, a convenience sample of 166 pre-service elementary teachers enrolled in health education course at Ball State University, voluntarily completed the questionnaire in Spring semester 2004. A panel of expert jurors reviewed the instrument for face validity. A pilot test was conducted to confirm instrument reliability. Data were analyzed using both unviariate and bivariate analysis. Bivariate correlations indicated a statistically significant association between pre-service elementary teachers' attitudes toward role modeling and their attitudes toward role modeling healthy behaviors. Additionally, a statistically significant association was indicated between pre-service elementary teachers' attitudes toward role modeling healthy behaviors and the actual health behaviors they practice. Results confirmed that while elementary teachers believe role modeling healthy behaviors to their students is important, they are not consistently practicing healthy behaviors. === Department of Physiology and Health Science